At least 11 people lost their lives in a devastating road accident on Wednesday night in the Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh.
The tragic incident occurred in the Drumdganj police station area along the Mirzapur–Rewa National Highway.
According to police officials, a trailer carrying gravel from Madhya Pradesh lost control after its brakes reportedly failed while descending a slope.
The out-of-control vehicle first rammed into a Swift car and then collided with a truck. The car was crushed between the trailer and the truck.
Moments later, a Bolero SUV approaching from behind crashed into the trailer. The impact triggered a massive fire in the Bolero, trapping its occupants inside. Nine people, including the driver, were burned alive in the vehicle.
Superintendent of Police Aparna Rajat Kaushik stated that all the Bolero passengers were relatives from Naraina village under Jigna police station.
The family was returning from Maihar in Madhya Pradesh after a child’s head-shaving (mundan) ceremony. Among the deceased were a 7-year-old child and his mother.
The victims also included the driver of the Swift car and the cleaner of the truck, who succumbed to injuries during treatment at a hospital.
The deceased trapped in Bolero have been identified as Vandana Singh (38), Shiva (7), her son, Veena Singh (47), Piyush Singh (15), Sonam (age not specified), Priyanka Singh (42), Kartikeya Singh (18), Pankaj Singh (40), Sonam (9) and Vishnu (Bolero driver, resident of Rampur).
Other victims have been identified as Jai Prakash (27), driver of the Swift car, a resident of Sonbhadra, Vikas, the truck cleaner from Madhya Pradesh, who died during treatment.
Eyewitnesses described the collision as extremely severe, with the Bolero catching fire almost instantly after impact.
Despite immediate rescue efforts by locals, no one inside the burning vehicle could be saved due to the intensity of the flames.
Police and fire brigade teams rushed to the scene upon receiving information and managed to bring the fire under control.
Senior officials, including SP Aparna Rajat Kaushik and other police personnel, supervised the rescue operations. The administration has initiated further investigation into the cause of the accident.
