10 Devotees Killed, 19 Injured in Fatal Collision on Prayagraj-Mirzapur Highway

Korba | Correspondent: Ten devotees from Korba, Chhattisgarh, tragically lost their lives in a road accident on the Prayagraj-Mirzapur highway. The group was traveling to attend the Maha Kumbh Mela in a Bolero.

The deceased have been identified as Ishwari Prasad Jaiswal, Santosh Soni, Bhagirathi Jaiswal, Somnath, Ajay Banjare, Saurabh Kumar Soni, Ganga Das Verma, Shiva Rajput, Deepak Verma, and Raju Sahu, all residents of Korba and Janjgir-Champa.

Additionally, 19 others were injured in the incident and have been admitted to the Ramnagar Community Health Center (CHC) for treatment.

According to police reports, the accident occurred around 2:30 AM when the Bolero, traveling from Korba to Prayagraj, collided with a bus near Manu Ka Pura village under Meja police station. Witnesses in the bus stated that the Bolero was speeding when the crash occurred. Despite the bus driver applying the brakes, the Bolero collided head-on with the bus at high speed.

The impact of the crash was so severe that the Bolero was crushed, and several passengers were thrown onto the road. Tragically, all 10 people in the Bolero died at the scene.

The bus, which was carrying passengers from Rajgarh, Madhya Pradesh, was en route to Banaras after the Kumbh bath. Nineteen people on the bus sustained injuries.

President Draupadi Murmu has expressed her sorrow over the tragic accident. She shared her condolences on Twitter, stating, "The news of the loss of many lives in a road accident on the Mirzapur Highway in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, is deeply saddening. My heartfelt sympathies go out to the families of the deceased. I also pray for the swift recovery of all those injured."

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also conveyed his grief over the incident. The Chief Minister’s Office issued a statement on Twitter, saying, "Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed profound sorrow over the tragic loss of life in a road accident in Prayagraj district. He extends his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families."

The Chief Minister’s Office further stated, "The Chief Minister has instructed district administration officials to ensure the immediate transportation of the injured to the hospital and provide them with necessary treatment. He has also wished for their speedy recovery."