Eight children dead in horror tractor crash as packed vehicle ploughs into pond
Several children were among 15 people killed when a tractor ploughed into a pond in India this morning.
The tractor-trolley was carrying worshippers in Uttar Pradesh's Kasganj district when it lost control and ploughed into a pond, killing 15 devotees who were on pilgrimage to the Ganges River. Today (Saturday Feb 24) is Magh Purnima, a holy day in India when Hindus take a holy bath in the sacred river to worship Vishnu.
The tragic collision happened at around 10am this morning, when the driver lost control and the trolley trailing behind it flipped into the nearby body of water. According to the locals, the tractor driver tried to avoid colliding with a car that was traveling down the road, but eventually lost control of the vehicle.
The eyewitnesses said that the tractor-trolley entered the pond and toppled over, resulting in the deaths. Among the fatalities were seven women and eight children.
Members of the public waded through the water in a desperate attempt to save the victims
The tractor's trailer ploughed into the water and overturnedA large number of devotees were left in critical condition and many are being treated at the Patiyali district hospital, while others have been transferred to specialist medical centres. Terrifying footage of the aftermath shows emergency responders and members of the public clambering to rescue the victims from the water before piling them into the back of ambulances. Distraught family members were seen in a state of shock at the scene.
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The District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police, and other law enforcement and administrative personnel have promptly responded to the scene. Relief and rescue operations are currently in progress to assist those affected by this tragedy.
The victims were pilgrims said to be en route to the River Ganges for a sacred bathing ceremonyThe administration including Inspector General of Police (IG) Aligarh range has confirmed that the accident resulted in the loss of 15 lives thus far. At the Patiyali Community Health Center, seven women and eight children have been declared deceased, as reported by Chief Medical Officer Dr. Rajeev Aggarwal.
Medical tests are being conducted on the remaining injured patients who were transported to the district hospital by ambulance.Authorities have cautioned that the number of fatalities may increase as the situation unfolds. In a video clip panicked locals can be seen rushing to the site amid rescue efforts with traffic coming to a halt.
The footage showed dozens thronging around a digger to witness the rescue of the devotees. "There were children as well," a man can be heard saying in one of the videos. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended his condolences to the families of the victims, expressing profound sorrow over the tragic incident.
He announced a compensation of ₹2 lakh (£1903) for the next of kin of the deceased and ₹50,000 (£475) for the injured. The Chief Minister directed officials in the Kasganj district to ensure that the accident victims receive prompt and adequate medical attention.
Adityanath also instructed them to mobilise resources for immediate assistance at the site, located within the jurisdiction of the Patiyali police station in Kasganj, and emphasised the need for a swift response in terms of rescue operations.
"The loss of lives in a road accident in Kasganj district is extremely heart-wrenching. My condolences are with the bereaved family. District administration officials have been instructed to provide proper free treatment to all the injured. It is a prayer to Lord Shri Ram to grant peace to the departed souls and speedy recovery to the injured," Adityanath said in his statement.
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