Agra / Lucknow: A road accident in Rajasthan’s Dausa district claimed the lives of 11 people from Uttar Pradesh, including seven children and three women. The victims were returning to Etah from Khatu Shyam temple when their pickup truck, carrying 22 passengers, rammed into a stationary container truck.
The collision took place around 3:30 am in the Santhal police station area’s Bapi village. Ten people died on the spot, while another woman succumbed to injuries at the hospital. The impact crushed the rear section of the pickup and left the site scattered with blood, footwear, and belongings of the victims.
District Magistrate of Etah, Premranjan Singh, said the pilgrims had travelled in two separate pickups — one carrying men, the other children and women. Of the deceased, nine belonged to Asrauli village in Etah and two to Khera Firozabad.
Four people remain hospitalised in Dausa, while critically injured victims have been shifted to Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh Hospital. Local accounts describe the collision as so severe that it sounded like an explosion.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences and announced ex-gratia relief of ₹2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Kirori Lal Meena stated that the location is a known accident blackspot, already identified by the state for remedial measures.
By late afternoon, nine bodies had been transported back to Asrauli, where burial and cremation preparations began. The remaining two bodies were sent to Firozabad. Villagers reported multiple families had lost several members, deepening the tragedy’s impact on the close-knit community.
Police and district administration officials visited the accident site to investigate the cause. A medical team from Etah has been deployed in Dausa to assist the injured until their treatment is complete.
PM extends condolence
PM Modi took to social media platform X extending condolences stating: "Deeply saddened by the loss of lives in an accident in Dausa, Rajasthan. Condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. Praying for speedy recovery of the injured" He also extended ₹2 Lakh as Ex-Gratia to victim's families and ₹50,000 to injured from PMNRF
