12 killed as van rams truck in U.P.

A speeding van carrying 18 passengers rammed into a stationary truck on the National Highway 24 here early on Saturday morning, killing 12 people and injuring six others, the police said.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief at the deaths and directed the officials concerned to initiate steps for ensuring all possible help and proper treatment to the injured persons.

The incident took place at Uchauliya when the overloaded van, on its way to Sitapur from Shahjahanpur, hit the truck from the rear near a roadside eatery, Superintendent of Police S. Channappa said.

Nine people, including the van’s driver and the helper, died on the spot, he said.

Three of the seven injured who were rushed to a hospital in Shahjahanpur succumbed to their injuries later, the police said.