In a tragic road accident on Sunday morning, an SUV carrying 16 passengers plunged into the overflowing Saryu canal in Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh, leading to the death of 11 people, including nine members of the same family, while one girl is still missing.
President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath condoled the loss of lives and expressed grief over the accident.
President Murmu conveyed her condolences to the bereaved families via a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “The news of the tragic accident in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, is deeply saddening. I offer my heartfelt condolences to the grieving families and wish for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
PM Modi announced financial assistance. As per the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Rs 2 lakh each will be given to the next of kin of the deceased, and Rs 50,000 to the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
Chief Minister Adityanath described the incident as “extremely heartbreaking” and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased. He also instructed district officials to ensure immediate and adequate treatment for the injured.
The incident occurred around 10 AM near the Itiyathok police station. The victims were on their way to offer prayers at the Prithvinath temple when the vehicle lost control and veered off the road.
According to eyewitnesses, the speeding vehicle slipped on the rain-soaked road and fell into the canal. The water level was high due to continuous rain, and the vehicle was completely submerged moments after falling. Tragically, all doors got locked due to the water pressure, trapping passengers inside. Local villagers jumped into the canal in an attempt to rescue those trapped, but could not open the vehicle doors. Eventually, they managed to pull the vehicle near the banks using ropes and break the window to rescue four passengers.
Among the deceased are six women, two men, and three children, while 10-year-old Rachna is still missing. An SDRF team is continuing the search operation for her.
The survivors include a girl named Pinky, who recounted the horrifying moments, saying, “We were singing devotional songs when the vehicle suddenly slipped and fell into the canal. Everything went blank after that.”
Those who died in the accident belonged to an extended family from Sihav village under Motiganj police station. Among the deceased were Beena (44), and her daughters Kajal (22) and Mahak alias Rinki (14); her brother-in-law Ramkaran (36), his wife Ansuya (34), son Shubh (7), and daughter Saumya (9); and her younger brother-in-law Ramroop’s wife Durgesh Nandini (35) and son Amit (14).
In addition, Sanju (26) and Anju alias Gudia (20), relatives of Prahlad’s neighbor Ramlalan Verma, also died. Prahlad’s children, Pinky and Satyam, neighbor Ramlalan, and the driver, Sitaraman, were injured.
Prahlad Kasodhan, the head of the family, was not in the vehicle at the time. He is the manager of a local intermediate college named Mewalal Inter College in the village. The family had left for Prithvi Nath temple, approximately 50 km away, at around 9:30 AM and had covered about half the distance when the accident occurred.
The horrifying visuals that emerged after the accident showed bodies lying on the roadside, with people attempting CPR to revive them. The entire village is in mourning for the incident.