A tragic road mishap on the Mainpuri-Aligarh National Highway near Etah in Uttar Pradesh took the life of one Kanwar pilgrim and left six others injured when a speeding truck rammed into a tractor-trolley carrying devotees late Saturday night. The collision occurred around 11:30 PM within the jurisdiction of the Kotwali Dehat police station area, causing chaos and distress among the traveling group.
Devotees Were En Route to Soron for Ganga Water
The group of pilgrims had set out from Kishanpur village, located in the Kurawali area of Mainpuri district. They were traveling aboard a tractor-trolley headed toward Soron to collect holy Ganga water for the annual pilgrimage. As the vehicle moved along the Mainpuri-Aligarh National Highway, a high-speed truck approached from behind and struck the tractor-trolley with great force. Immediately following the impact, the truck driver fled the scene along with the vehicle before authorities or bystanders could intervene.
Deceased Identified and Condition of the Injured
Emergency services dispatched ambulances to transport seven injured pilgrims from the crash site to a government medical college for urgent medical care. Among those hurt, 50-year-old Satyapal sustained severe head injuries. Due to the critical nature of his condition, medical personnel referred him to a hospital in Saifai for specialized treatment. However, Satyapal succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment on Sunday.
The remaining six injured pilgrims are currently receiving medical care at the hospital. Officials identified them as 15-year-old Ragini, 23-year-old Nisha, 35-year-old Geetam, 40-year-old Raghuveer, 22-year-old Sandhya, and 15-year-old Muskan. According to eyewitnesses present at the scene, approximately 15 to 20 pilgrims were riding on the tractor-trolley when the crash took place. Local residents pointed out that street lights along that stretch of the National Highway were non-functional, leaving the road in darkness and significantly elevating the risk of such accidents.
Separate Mishap in Barabanki and Advisory on Kanwar Yatra
In a separate incident during the ongoing pilgrimage season, another tractor-trolley carrying Kanwariyas met with an accident in Barabanki district on Sunday morning. The vehicle was transporting devotees to a shrine in Bhagauli for performing Jalabhisheka during the auspicious month of Sawan. While passing through the Baddupur police station area, the tractor-trolley lost control and veered off the road into an adjacent field. Three pilgrims suffered injuries in the crash, with one reported to be in serious condition.
Amid these recurring accidents during the pilgrimage, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued an official statement advising all Kanwar pilgrims to maintain strict discipline throughout the journey and avoid any unruliness or disruption.
