24 feared dead as fire breaks out after bus-truck collision in Kannauj
There were around 45 passengers in the bus which was on its way to Jaipur from Farrukhabad, police said, adding that the accident took place under the Chhibramau Police Station area.
Around 24 persons are feared dead as a double-decker bus and a truck caught fire after a head-on collision at Chhabaramau area of Kannauj district Friday, police said. 21 people sustained severe burn injuries in a fire that broke out after collision near Uttar Pradesh’s Chiloi village.
Fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the blaze has been controlled, they said.
There were around 45 passengers in the bus which was on its way to Jaipur from Farrukhabad, police said, adding that the accident took place under the Chhibramau Police Station area here.
Mohit Agarwal, Inspector General of Police, Kanpur said 21 people have been rescued and admitted to hospital and efforts are on to contact their family members.
The blaze has been controlled and rescue operations are on, Agarwal said.
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Uttar Pradesh director general of police, O P Singh said it appears that the diesel tank of the vehicle exploded under the impact of the collision.
Our first priority is to rescue the passengers safely and senior officers are present at the spot, the DGP said in Lucknow.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken cognisance of the incident and asked the district magistrate and superintendent of police to ensure all possible medical assistance to the victims.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, on Saturday (January 11) expressed grief over the death of several people.
“Many people have lost their lives in this accident. I express my condolences to the kin of the dead, and wish the injured recover soon,” the prime minister tweeted.
उत्तर प्रदेश के कन्नौज में हुए भीषण सड़क हादसे के बारे में जानकर अत्यंत दुख पहुंचा है। इस दुर्घटना में कई लोगों को अपनी जान गंवानी पड़ी है। मैं मृतकों के परिजनों के प्रति अपनी संवेदनाएं प्रकट करता हूं, साथ ही घायलों के शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की कामना करता हूं।
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 11, 2020
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also expressed condolences to the families of those killed.
“I am saddened by the news of the death of 20 people and injuries to several people in a road accident in Kannauj in which a massive fire broke out after a bus and truck collision,” Gandhi tweeted.
“I express my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and wish speedy recovery for those injured,” the former Congress president said.
कन्नौज में सड़क हादसे में बस और ट्रक के टक्कर में लगी भीषण आग से 20 लोगों की मौत और अनेक लोगों के घायल होने की खबर से आहत हूं ।
मृतकों के परिवार के प्रति मैं अपनी गहरी संवेदना व्यक्त करता हूं और घायलों के जल्द स्वस्थ होने की कामना करता हूं।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 11, 2020
(With inputs from agencies.)
