Lakhimpur Kheri: A devastating head-on collision between a passenger van and a speeding truck claimed ten lives on the Sisaiya-Lakhimpur national highway on Monday morning. The tragic accident occurred between Unchgaon and Bharehta villages while the van was travelling from Lakhimpur towards Sisaiya. According to local police officials, the impact of the crash was exceptionally severe, causing massive destruction to the passenger vehicle and resulting in multiple immediate fatalities at the scene.
Dhaurahra Circle Officer Shamsher Bahadur Singh confirmed that all nine passengers inside the van, along with the vehicle’s driver, lost their lives in the mishap. Providing further details on the incident, Lakhimpur Kheri District Magistrate Anjani Kumar Singh stated that nine individuals died on the spot, while one remaining victim succumbed to critical injuries after being rushed to the district hospital. Local emergency teams and law enforcement personnel quickly arrived at the crash site to launch rescue operations and clear the heavily damaged vehicles to restore the flow of traffic on the highway.
Authorities have successfully established the identities of seven of the deceased individuals. They include Jaideep Singh, aged 25, Pawan, 23, Sohan, 21, Ram Goyal, 42, Sahajram, 35, and Pappu, 18, all of whom were residents of the neighbouring Bahraich district. The seventh identified victim was 15-year-old Adnan Khan, a resident of Lakhimpur Kheri. Local police noted that rigorous efforts are still underway to identify the remaining victims and inform their respective families.
The tragic incident drew profound condolences from top state leaders who expressed solidarity with the grieving relatives. Expressing his grief on social media platform X, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described the loss of life as deeply distressing and heart-wrenching. He directed local administrative officials to ensure swift and adequate assistance to the victims’ families. Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak also expressed their deep sorrow, offering heartfelt thoughts to the bereaved families during this painful time.
