LUCKNOW: Four men, including a government doctor, were killed and three others sustained critical injuries after a speeding SUV crashed into the rear of a trailer truck on the Lucknow-Sultanpur Highway in Barabanki district early Tuesday. The victims were traveling to Kainchi Dham for a pilgrimage when the accident occurred.
The collision took place around 5 am near Bhikhra village under the Haidergarh police station area. According to police, the SUV was heading towards Lucknow from eastern Uttar Pradesh when it slammed into the trailer from behind with tremendous force.
Preliminary investigation suggests the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel, leading to the fatal crash. Due to the high speed, the front part of the Innova was completely crushed, trapping several occupants inside the mangled vehicle.
Soon after the accident, local residents rushed to the spot after hearing cries for help and alerted the police. Personnel from Haidergarh police station, along with highway patrol teams, reached the site and began rescue operations. Locals and police jointly worked to pull the injured passengers out of the badly damaged car.
The injured and unconscious occupants were immediately taken to a nearby hospital by ambulance. Doctors declared four persons dead on arrival, while three others with severe injuries were referred to the Trauma Centre at King George's Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow for advanced treatment. Their condition is stated to be critical.
The deceased were identified as Dr. Rahul Kumar (36), a resident of Chandauli who served as a government doctor in Mughalsarai; Rahul Singh (35) of Ghazipur; Satyam Singh (38) of Ballia; and Suraj Mishra (31) of Sultanpur.
The injured were identified as Pankaj (34) from Mirzapur, Chandan (35), and Prashant, a resident of Ballia. Police said all three suffered serious injuries in the collision.
The accident caused panic and traffic disruption on the Lucknow-Sultanpur Highway for some time as rescue teams cleared the wreckage. Police later regulated traffic and removed the damaged vehicle with the help of cranes.
Family members of the deceased reached the hospital and mortuary after being informed. Emotional scenes were witnessed outside the mortuary as relatives broke down in grief. Several family members were seen crying inconsolably and sitting on the ground in shock.
Among the deceased, Satyam Singh was known to run Annapurna Hostel in the Pandeypur area of Varanasi. Originally from Ballia district, he lived in Varanasi with his wife Alankrita and their two children. Relatives said he was the eldest among three brothers and the sole earning member of the family. His father, Tej Pratap Singh, had died several years ago. Family members said Satyam had returned to Ballia only a week earlier.
According to relatives, all the victims had gathered at Satyam's residence in Varanasi before leaving together for Kainchi Dham. Dr. Rahul Kumar was serving as a government medical officer, Suraj Mishra worked as a teacher, and Rahul Singh was involved in business activities.
Police have informed the families of all victims and sent the bodies for post-mortem examination. Further investigation into the accident is underway.
