24 dead as tractor-trolley overturns in Kanpur district

According to police, the tractor-trolley was carrying at least 40 people, who were returning after attending a ‘mundan’ ceremony of a child at Chandrika Devi temple in Fatehpur district nearby. Soon after the accident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath appealed to the people to use tractor-trolleys only for carrying goods, and not to ferry people in them.

Distressed by the tractor-trolley mishap in Kanpur. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. Prayers with the injured. The local administration is providing all possible assistance to the affected: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 1, 2022

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Adityanath expressed grief over the incident and announced ex-gratia amounts for families of the deceased and those injured.

Kanpur zone ADG Bhanu Bhaskar said the people were returning home and had stopped on the highway for refreshments — as the vehicle restarted, it overturned soon after and fell off the road. “When the trolley toppled, the people inside got trapped,” Bhaskar said. “People from the nearby market helped in the rescue operation. The injured are being treated.”

According to a senior officer, there were at least 10 children and 15 women in the trolley. “All of them are related and belong to an extended family,” the officer added.

जनपद कानपुर में हुई सड़क दुर्घटना अत्यंत हृदय विदारक है।

जिलाधिकारी एवं अन्य वरिष्ठ अधिकारियों को तत्काल मौके पर पहुंचकर युद्ध स्तर पर राहत व बचाव कार्य संचालित करने तथा घायलों के समुचित उपचार की व्यवस्था करने के निर्देश दिए गए हैं।

घायलों के शीघ्र स्वास्थ्य लाभ की कामना है।

— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) October 1, 2022

District Magistrate Vishak G Ayyar told PTI that an investigation is on to ascertain the reasons behind the accident.

Adityanath announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of those who died in the accident and Rs 50,000 to those injured.

Quoting Prime Minister Modi, the PMO handle tweeted: “Distressed by the tractor-trolley mishap in Kanpur. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. Prayers with the injured. The local administration is providing all possible assistance to the affected: PM”

“An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be paid to the next of kin of each of the deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000: PM,” the PMO stated in another tweet.