The New Indian Express ·
12 pilgrims killed, many injured as vehicle overturns after hitting divider in UP’s Baghpat
LUCKNOW: At least 12 lives were lost, and over 16 were injured after a pickup vehicle carrying pilgrims overturned on the Eastern Peripheral Expressway in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh late Sunday night.
As per the police, the pilgrims were returning to Budaun after a pilgrimage to Bagad Dham in Rajasthan when the accident took place.
The vehicle, carrying 32 devotees from Budaun, reportedly hit a divider.
The accident, allegedly occurred at around 1.00 am between Basi and Bada villages in Khekra Kotwali area, around 15 km from Baghpat district headquarters.
Police and emergency personnel reached the spot soon after receiving information and rushed the injured to the district hospital, where six persons were declared dead.
Six more people later died while undergoing treatment at a medical college in Meerut, taking the toll to 12, SSP Rai Suraj Rai said.
According to a doctor at the district hospital, 22 injured people were brought to the hospital for treatment. Eighteen of them were, subsequently referred to a higher medical centre in Meerut.
The deceased were identified as Munni Devi (55), Sugadpal (40), Sadhu (60), Rameshwar Yadav (60), Premsingh (40), and Jitendra (7).
Authorities are trying to establish the identities of the remaining victims.
According to the injured pilgrims, most of them were asleep when the vehicle suddenly overturned with a loud sound. The next moment, they saw the vehicle was overturned. They said there was screaming and chaos at the spot.
The driver allegedly said that a vehicle approaching from behind had collided with their vehicle, causing it to lose balance and overturn.
Police, however, are investigating the circumstances and the exact cause of the accident.
Bagad Dham, also known as Gogamedi, is a prominent pilgrimage site in Rajasthan’s Hanumangarh district and is associated with Jaharveer Baba Goga Ji Maharaj, also known as Goga Nath Ji.
Large numbers of devotees visit the site during August and September.
The pilgrims, hailing from the same village, had travelled together to Rajasthan and were returning home.
Sources said villagers had been making pilgrimages to the site for nearly two decades without any major accidents. This time, however, the incident has left several families devastated.