On a day that saw many labourers being killed on the state’s highways, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has declared action against all unauthorised vehicles, including trucks, plying with people. He has also announced Rs 2 lakh as compensation for the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
A couple, walking from their homes in Delhi to Bihar, was killed in Unnao on the Agra-Lucknow-Expressway this morning, some hours after an early morning accident in Auraiya, on the same Expressway, killed 24 labourers. In the former accident, the deceased were hit by an auto reversing after getting its petrol tank filled. In the latter incident, the mini truck carrying the labourers was hit by a speeding truck, on impact of which, both vehicles overturned. The mini-truck had stopped at a roadside eatery when the accident happened.
While the couple’s child escaped the auto, the Auraiya incident left 24 dead. As per a list released by the government, of the 24 killed, 12 belonged to Jharkhand, four were from West Bengal, four from Bihar, two were from Uttar Pradesh while the destinations of another four are unknown. They were coming from Rajasthan. The injured have been admitted to two different hospitals in batches of 20 and 11. There is no clarity on when or how the families of the deceased will be contacted to take away the bodies.
These accidents came a morning after the government announced that 200 buses shall be on standby at all entry points to the state to ensure that those who entered the state, on foot or on any other non-authorised vehicles, were taken to their destinations while maintaining distancing rules. As per the government’s orders, they shall also be provided food on their journey.
A note issued from the Chief Minister’s office said, “Fixing the responsibility for this accident, the thana incharges of both neighbouring districts (Agra and Mathura) have been suspended, while the circle officers have been issued strict warnings.” Explanations have been called for from the SSP and Additional SSP Agra and their counterparts in Mathura. The ADG (Agra) and IG (Agra) have also been called upon for explanations.
Both the vehicles involved in the Auraiya accident have been seized by the police.