Daijiworld Media Network - Lucknow

Lucknow, May 18: A devastating road accident in Lakhimpur Kheri left nine people dead after a speeding truck collided head-on with a van on Monday morning, officials confirmed.

The crash occurred near Sisaia on National Highway-730 under the Isanagar police station area. According to authorities, the impact of the collision was so severe that the van was completely mangled on the spot.

Police said around 10 passengers were travelling in the van at the time of the accident. Nine of them died instantly, while one survivor sustained serious injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Locals alerted the police immediately after the incident. Rescue teams arrived at the scene soon after and carried out recovery operations. The bodies of the deceased have been sent for post-mortem examination, and families have been informed.

Preliminary information suggests that the van was travelling towards Sisaia from Lakhimpur when it collided with a truck coming from the Bahraich side. Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the crash.

In a separate incident on the same day in Bahraich, four people were killed and two others injured after a car collided with a wheat-harvesting combine machine near Digha More in Brahmnipura.

Police said the injured were taken to hospital in critical condition, while officials have launched an inquiry into both accidents to determine the circumstances leading to the crashes.

Senior police officials, including SP (Rural) D.P. Tiwari, confirmed that legal proceedings are underway and further investigation is in progress.