Death toll in Kaushambi road accident increases to 10

Prayagraj: The death toll in a road accident involving a pickup vehicle and a trailer truck in Uttar Pradesh's Kaushambi district rose to 10 after two injured women died during treatment late Friday.A group of around 28 people, mostly from the same extended family in Jafarganj village, Fatehpur, were heading back home after attending a 'mundan' ceremony in Prayagraj and visiting the Maa Sheetla shrine at Kada Dham, when their pickup vehicle rammed a stationary trailer near a petrol pump on the Kanpur-Prayagraj highway.Five women and three children died at the spot, while the injured were first taken to nearby facilities and then referred to Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital (SRNH) of Prayagraj. Police said 24 injured persons continue to receive treatment.The deceased include Darshniya (68), Sukhrania (65), Maiki (56), Soni alias Sundari (50), Rajkumari (35), Gudia (27), Kallo (22), Dhruv (7), Anuj (8) and Mayank (10). Post-mortem examinations were conducted overnight and the bodies have been sent to their native village, where police presence has been stepped up amid palpable grief.Eyewitnesses recalled chaotic scenes after the crash, with injured passengers lying on the highway and locals rushing to help before emergency teams arrived.An FIR has been lodged under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and efforts are on to trace the absconding trailer driver.