KANPUR: Twenty-seven people were killed and 22 others injured after a tractor-trolley in which they were travelling fell into a pond in Ghatampur area of Kanpur late on Saturday evening. According to police sources, the death toll may be even higher as doctors stated the condition of a few others to be critical.
All the devotees, who were residents of Kortha village, were returning home after attending a ‘mundan’ ceremony from the Chandrika Devi temple in neighbouring Fatehpur district.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolence on the deaths and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the dead from the PM’s relief fund. “Distressed by the tractor-trolley mishap in Kanpur. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. Prayers are with the injured. The local administration is providing all possible assistance to the affected," PM Modi tweeted.
President of India Droupadi Murmu also expressed condolence over the tragic incidence.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and announced a financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the seriously injured. He also instructed district and police officials to reach the spot with rescue measures at the earliest and to ensure proper treatment to the people injured in the accident.
After the accident, CM Yogi also asked people to desist from using tractors for agricultural purposes and not as a means of conveyance.
According to police, one Raju Nishad, a resident of Kortha village, had gone for the mundan ceremony of his one-year-old son on Saturday along with 50 people, including his family, at Chandrika Devi temple at Buxar Ghat in Fatehpur district. It was when Nishad along with others was returning to his native place on Saturday night that the tractor-trolley went uncontrollable, overturned and fell into a pond between Saadh and Gambhirpur villages.
By 9pm, police had retrieved 25 bodies. Two kids among the injured later died in hospital. The search is still on for more bodies.
Senior district and police officials from Kanpur have also reached the spot and are helping in the rescue and relief operations.
Several district and police officials have also reached Kanpur’s Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital to make arrangements in advance for those critically injured. A dozen ambulances had reached the spot and from there the injured were sent to nearby CHCs and LLR Hospital.
Kanpur Outer SP Tej Swaroop Singh said that the police personnel along with the local residents are trying to rescue those who fell into the pond. "It is difficult to tell how many people are still trapped in the pond right now," he added.
