LUCKNOW: At least 18 people were killed when a double-decker bus turned turtle after crashing into a divider on the Mainpuri-Etawah road near Kiratpur village in Mainpuri district early on Wednesday.
Sources said the bus, belonging to a Farrukhabad private transport company, had set out from Jaipur and was headed to Farrukhabad via Mainpuri when the driver lost control, about 250km from Lucknow. Around 30 people were injured in the crash that happened around 5.30am.
“The bus was carrying around 60-70 people. Many were sitting or lying on the roof of the bus because of the heat,” said Mainpuri SP Ajay Shankar Rai. The driver, who is believed to have been speeding, has lost his left leg and is being treated at Saifai Medical University.
Another police officer said, “Most of the passengers were zardozi artisans and daily labourers who were going to their homes in Kannauj and Farrukhabad districts for Eid.”
Twelve out of 18 bodies have been identified by district administration authorities, who were supervising the rescue and relief operations. The Prime Minister condoled the deaths.