Daijiworld Media Network - Kanpur

Kanpur, Mar 15: A 60-year-old woman from Nashik died and 45 others were injured after an Ayodhya-bound tourist bus carrying pilgrims rammed a stationary truck on a highway in Kanpur on Saturday morning.

Police said the bus, carrying 57 passengers, was on its way to Ayodhya when the accident occurred on the Etawah highway. The deceased has been identified as Bhagirathi (60).

Local residents rushed to the spot and helped shift the injured passengers, including 31 women and 14 men, to a nearby government medical college and hospital.

According to police, the pilgrims from Ojhar and Pimpalgaon in Niphad taluka and from Malegaon taluka had left by bus on Thursday for a religious tour.

Deputy Commissioner of Police in Kanpur S M Qasim said the tourist bus rammed into a truck that had broken down and was parked along the highway.

“The front portion of the bus was extensively damaged. Two containers and a truck also collided in the chain reaction, though no additional injuries were reported. We suspect that the bus driver might have dozed off, but further investigation is on,” he said.

Emergency medical officer Dr Ashish Sahu said the woman had died before reaching the hospital and her family had been informed.

Police said four passengers underwent surgery while five others required orthopaedic treatment.

According to survivors, the group had started their journey from Maharashtra on Thursday, visited Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain on Friday and continued their journey after a late-night halt in Bhind.

Ayush Prasad, district collector of Nashik, said he had coordinated with officials in Kanpur after being informed about the accident and confirmed that all injured passengers were receiving treatment at the government hospital.

He added that an additional district collector-level officer had been assigned to oversee medical care and arrangements for the injured passengers in Kanpur.