Kanpur bus accident: The accident took place between Ghantaghar and Tat Mill cross road. (Photo: ANI) Six bystanders were killed and as many people were grievously injured after the driver of an electric bus lost control and rammed it into several vehicles in Kanpur’s Rail Bazar area late on Sunday night. The police said they arrested the driver of the bus, who fled the spot after the accident, on Monday morning.
President Ramnath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi were among those who condoled with the families of the victims.
The police said the accident occurred around 11.30 pm when the bus was travelling from Ghantaghar to the Tat Mill area. Kanpur Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Anand Prakash Tiwari told reporters that driver Satendra Singh Yadav was drunk at the time.
#Police_Commissionerate_Kanpur_Nagar के घण्टाघर से टाटमील चौराहे के बीच हुयी घटना व की गयी कार्यवाही के सम्बन्ध में पुलिस उपायुक्त पूर्वी @dcpekanpur द्वारा दी गयी बाइट।@Uppolice pic.twitter.com/QpGho35a0M
— POLICE COMMISSIONERATE KANPUR NAGAR (@kanpurnagarpol) January 30, 2022
According to eyewitnesses, Yadav moved the bus to the wrong side of the road and knocked down an e-rickshaw. The vehicle then rammed into three cars and a bike, and mowed down the victims who were walking on the road. It came to a halt after hitting a traffic booth at a crossing.
Tiwari said the police had conducted a forensic examination of the bus, and were collecting CCTV footage to ascertain the exact sequence of events. The officer said the police had yet to question the driver at length to find out what exactly happened. An FIR has been registered at the Rail Bazar police station, and the police have decided to invoke the murder charge against Satendra Singh.
Asked about the victims, Tiwari said the police had yet to identify two of them. Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Pramod Kumar said that of the six injured four people were admitted to Krishna Hospital and two were undergoing treatment in Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital.
They are said to be in a stable condition.
Meanwhile, in a tweet, President Kovind said, “Deeply saddened by the news of many casualties in the Kanpur bus accident. My deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in this incident. I wish the injured people a speedy recovery.”
कानपुर में हुई बस दुर्घटना में कई लोगों के हताहत होने की खबर से अत्यंत दुःख हुआ है। इस घटना में अपने प्रियजनों को खोने वाले परिवारों के प्रति मेरी गहन शोक-संवेदनाएं। मैं घायल हुए लोगों के शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की कामना करता हूँ।
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 31, 2022
Modi wished a speedy recovery to the injured, and tweeted, “Very sad to learn about the road accident in Babupurwa area of Kanpur. My deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives in this accident.”
Yogi Adityanath said the administration had been instructed to “provide all possible medical aid to the injured”. He tweeted, “The death of people in the Kanpur road accident is deeply saddening. May the Almighty grant the departed souls a place at his feet and give strength to the bereaved family members to bear this unfathomable loss.”
Priyanka Gandhi condoled with the families of the victims and wished speedy recovery of the injured. In a tweet in Hindi, Rahul Gandhi said, “The road accident in Kanpur is very unfortunate. My condolences to all those who lost their dear ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of all those who are injured. My appeal to Congress workers to help in every possible way.”
(With PTI Inputs)
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