10 killed in van-truck collision in UP’s Lakhimpur Kheri; PM Modi announces ex gratia for injured, deceased

LUCKNOW: At least 10 people were killed after a four-wheeler collided with a truck on Monday morning in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri district, police said.

According to police sources, all the victims were travelling in a Magic vehicle. Nine people died on the spot, while one succumbed to injuries on the way to hospital. The deceased included a government school teacher and an engineer.

The accident took place near Adlispur village on the Pilibhit-Basti Highway, around 40 km from the district headquarters.

Local residents said the Magic vehicle was travelling from Lakhimpur Kheri to Sisaiya when it collided head-on with a speeding truck coming from Bahraich. The truck driver fled the scene after the crash.

The impact of the collision was severe, leaving several passengers trapped between the seats with fatal head injuries. Two passengers were thrown onto the road.

Locals informed the police, who later sent the bodies for post-mortem examination.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives in the accident and announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 to those injured.

"Deeply pained to hear about a mishap in Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh. My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest. An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000," Modi said in a post on X.