Dumper ploughs through UP pilgrims, 11 dead

RUDRAPUR: THE INJURED WERE TAKEN TO TANAKPUR HOSPITAL, FROM WHERE EIGHT WERE LATER REFERRED TO KHATIMA HOSPITAL IN US NAGAR

Eleven people were killed and 20 injured when a speeding truck mowed through a group of pilgrims at Tanakpur in Champawat district on Friday morning, police said.

Four of the deceased were children.

Champawat superintendent of police Dhirendra Gunjiyal told HT over the phone that while nine pilgrims died on the spot, two succumbed to their injuries in a nearby hospital soon afterwards.

All the victims hailed from Nawabganj in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district. Nine of them were identified as Keshar Singh (16), Veer Singh (18), Vishal (17), Rajkumar (16), Deendayal (35), Babu (12), Sonu (18), Sohan Lal (40) and Ramswroop (45).

The incident occurred while the group of about 250 pilgrims were heading to the Maa Purnagiri shrine on foot, Tanakpur circle officer RS Rautela said.

“The group had reached the vicinity of the commercial tax office on NH-125 around 4.30 am when a speeding dumper lost control and mowed through them. Around 20 pilgrims were also injured in the incident,” Rautela said.

The accident site wore a ghastly look, strewn with body parts and belongings of the victims.

Army personnel from the nearby Banbasa military station launched rescue operations along with the police and local residents. The injured were taken to Tanakpur hospital, from where eight were later referred to Khatima hospital in US Nagar.

The driver of the truck, registered at the US Nagar regional transport office with an address in Khatima, managed to escape after the accident.

Officials said an intensive search has been launched to locate the man.

The Maa Purnagiri temple is located on the top of a mountain above 3,000 metres from sea level in Uttarakhand’s Tanakpur.

Earlier this week, five pilgrims – including two women and an infant – were killed when the Maruti van in which they were travelling, collided with a truck laden with sand in Nanakmatta, also in US Nagar, on Monday evening.