Kanpur: Four people, including the groom’s younger brother, were killed and three others were seriously injured when a speeding truck rammed into a van carrying members of a wedding procession at about 11 pm on Monday on National Highway 34 in the Maudaha Kotwali area of Hamirpur.
The truck dragged the van for nearly 100 metres, trapping all occupants inside. Local residents and police rescued them, but four people had died by then. The injured were admitted to the district hospital and were later referred to a higher centre.
The deceased were identified as Shashikant (30), younger brother of groom Ramakant and a resident of the Kurara police station area, van driver Kamlesh (45), Jeetu (30), and Mohan (24). The injured were identified as Rohit (19), Dilip (60) and Kamlesh (30).
The truck driver fled after the accident, but the police chased him and apprehended him 10 kilometres away.
According to DM Abhishek Goyal, the truck was carrying gravel from Mahoba to Shravasti, while the van occupants travelled to Mahoba to attend the wedding ceremony.
Circle Officer Maudaha Rajkumar Pandey said, “A wedding procession of the Kushwaha community from village Damar in Kurara police station area was heading to village Khaddi Pahra (Mahoba) in Kabarai police station area. Some members of the wedding party were travelling in the Maruti van. As the vehicle reached near Chhirka, a speeding dumper coming from the opposite direction rammed into it, leaving four people dead and three injured. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem and necessary action is being taken.”