Jhansi, Jan 24 (UNI) Three people, including a teenage girl and a village priest, were killed and 13 others injured after a speeding truck rammed into an auto-rickshaw in Jhansi early Saturday morning. The victims were returning home after attending an engagement ceremony.
The accident occurred around 4 a.m. near Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Women’s College, about two kilometres from Gurserai. According to the family, 16 people were travelling in the auto-rickshaw when it was hit head-on by a truck coming at high speed.
The impact was so severe that the auto was completely mangled.
Eighteen-year-old Janki, the bride’s cousin, and the village priest, Sita Ramaiya Gautam (60), died on the spot. The auto driver Narayan Das (40), succumbed to his injuries during treatment at Jhansi Medical College. A video of the accident has surfaced, showing Janki writhing in pain on the road after the collision.
The truck driver fled the scene after the accident and is currently absconding.
According to Chiranjeelal Kori, a resident of Kairokhar village in Gurserai, the engagement ceremony of his niece Rani, daughter of his younger brother Rakesh, was held on Friday night at Vineet Palace in Gurserai. Rani’s marriage had been fixed in Bangra Birona village of Garautha. Rituals such as god bharai, phaldan, and engagement concluded around 10:30 p.m., after which family members began returning home.
Rani and her parents stayed back at their house in Gurserai, while the rest of the relatives were travelling to the village in the auto driven by Narayan Das.
Among the injured are Narayan Das’s wife Parvati, his mother Mannu, and his aunt Sheela Devi. Janki, who died in the accident, was the younger of two sisters.
Her elder sister Kiran is married, while her brother Arvind is unmarried. Janki’s father, Lalaram Kori, had passed away 12 years ago. Her mother Jaikunwar was also injured in the accident.
The deceased priest, Sita Ramaiya Gautam, was well known in the village for conducting weddings and religious rituals. He is survived by two sons – Satyam, whose wedding is scheduled in two months, and Shivam, who is a student.
Of the 13 injured, the condition of nine is reported to be critical. Jagwati (60), Mannu (70), Jaikunwar (50), Sheela Devi (40), Heera Devi (40), Shivani (18), and Kallu Pal (22) are undergoing treatment at Jhansi Medical College. Parvati (39) is in extremely critical condition and has been admitted to a private hospital in Jhansi. Draupadi (26), Jaish (7), Sachin (3), Ramvati (60), and Arvind (20) are being treated at the Gurserai Community Health Centre.
Police are investigating the case and searching for the absconding truck driver.
