Lucknow: At least five pilgrims lost their lives and seven others sustained critical injuries as the car crushed into a truck stationed on the roadside in Jaunpur district of UP.
The pilgrims were headed to Allahabad.The accident took place on the Raebareli-Jaunpur highway at around 0300 hours in the morning when the SUV carrying the pilgrims from Kathirav village in Varanasi to Kade Manikpur in Allahabad, collided with the truck.
A police officer stated that prima facie the driver of the SUV appeared to have fallen asleep at the wheel leading to the accident.
The injured were rushed to the Machlishahr community health centre where five were pronounced dead on arrival.
The remaining seven were rushed to the district hospital in serious condition, who referred them to the BHU Trauma Centre where condition of four remains critical, the official added.
The deceased have been identified as Jai Prakash, 35, his wife Sarita Devi, 34, Sushil Devi, 31, Sharmila, 20, and Manoj Patel, 28. The bodies have been sent for autopsy.