In a devastating road accident on Saturday, at least four individuals, including a pregnant woman, lost their lives. In contrast, two others sustained critical injuries after a heavily loaded truck carrying ballast collided with an ambulance.
The tragic incident took place near Hanuman Ghati on the Varanasi-Shaktinagar road.
According to initial reports, the mishap occurred when the truck, laden with ballast, rammed into the ambulance from behind with considerable force.
The impact was so severe that the ambulance overturned and was dragged underneath the truck, causing catastrophic damage to the vehicle and its passengers.
The ambulance, en route to a hospital in Varanasi from Sonbhadra, was carrying six individuals at the time of the accident. Tragically, four of the occupants, including a pregnant woman, died on the spot due to the collision.
The woman, identified as Hiravati Kanhra from Obra, had been referred to a higher medical facility for specialized care. She was accompanied by her mother, Malti Devi, who also lost her life in the crash.
Two other victims, identified as Jugal Sonbhadra and Ramu, also succumbed to their injuries at the scene.
The two surviving passengers, Kaushal Kumar Kharwar Kanhra and Bhandari Sharma, both residents of Sant Nagar Gurma, suffered grievous injuries.
They were immediately rescued and rushed to the nearest Community Health Centre (CHC) located at Ahaura for urgent medical treatment. Their condition remains critical, and they are currently undergoing intensive care.
The accident caused a horrific scene, with passengers trapped beneath the ballast spilled from the truck. Rescue operations were launched immediately, and emergency workers toiled relentlessly to retrieve the bodies and rescue the injured from the wreckage.
Chunar’s Deputy District Magistrate, Rajesh Kumar Verma, confirmed the identities of the deceased and informed that their bodies were sent for postmortem examinations to ascertain the exact cause of death.
He further stated that senior police officials arrived at the spot promptly to supervise the rescue efforts and ensure that the accident site was cleared efficiently to resume traffic flow.
The truck driver, whose negligent driving appears to have caused the accident, fled the scene immediately after the collision. Authorities have launched a manhunt to track him down and bring him to justice.
Police teams have been dispatched to various locations to locate and apprehend the absconding driver.
In the aftermath of the mishap, traffic on the busy Varanasi-Shaktinagar road was severely disrupted for several hours, leading to long queues of stranded vehicles.
Police personnel, along with local volunteers, worked tirelessly to manage the traffic and restore normalcy.
This tragic incident has once again highlighted the growing concerns over road safety and reckless driving, especially involving heavy vehicles on busy highways.
The local administration has assured that a thorough investigation will be conducted, and appropriate action will be taken against those responsible for this heartbreaking loss of lives.