A devastating road accident in Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar district claimed two young lives on Tuesday, triggering massive protests by grieving family members who blocked the national highway for several hours.
The tragic incident occurred when a speeding bus collided with a motorcycle near the Kaptanganj intersection. The impact was so severe that both motorcycle riders, identified as Ankit Gupta (22) and Sonu Yadav (24), died instantly on the spot.
Eyewitnesses described a scene of chaos as the bus, reportedly traveling at high speed, failed to notice the motorcycle and rammed into it from behind. The force of the collision threw both young men several feet into the air, with local shopkeepers and pedestrians rushing to help immediately.
Highway Blocked in Anguish
As news of the tragedy spread, family members and local residents descended upon the national highway, blocking traffic completely for over three hours. The protestors demanded:
- Immediate arrest of the bus driver who fled the scene
- Compensation of ₹20 lakh for each victim's family
- Government job for one family member from each household
- Improved road safety measures in the accident-prone area
"We will not move until our demands are met," shouted one protestor, capturing the mood of the agitated crowd. "This is not the first accident here. The authorities have turned a blind eye to this dangerous stretch for too long."
Police Response and Investigation
Senior police officials, including Kushinagar SP, rushed to the spot to pacify the protestors. After prolonged negotiations, the blockade was finally lifted with assurances of proper investigation and action.
Police have registered a case against the unidentified bus driver and launched a manhunt to apprehend him. The bus involved in the accident has been impounded for further investigation.
Local authorities have promised to conduct a thorough road safety audit of the area and consider installing speed breakers and warning signs to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
