24 Migrant Workers Killed after 2 Trucks Collide in Uttar Pradesh

Guwahati: As many as 24 migrants were killed and more than 30 were injured when the trucks they were travelling in collided at around 3 am in the morning today in Uttar Pradesh's Auraiya district.

According to officials, separate groups of migrants had hitched a ride on the trucks from Rajasthan and Delhi and they were en route to Bihar, Jharkhand, UP and West Bengal.

Officials further informed that one of the trucks was loaded with goods and labourers were sitting on sacks when they were thrown off the vehicle due to the impact of the collision.

The collision happened some people had got down from one of the trucks that stopped at a dhaba to have tea. The injured, meanwhile, have been admitted to hospitals.

Locals and policemen helped the migrants after the accident and a large number of policemen can be seen carrying out rescue operations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, condoling the deceased on Twitter, wrote: "The road accident in Uttar Pradesh's Auraiya is extremely tragic. The government is involved in the relief work. I express my condolences to the families of those killed in this accident, as well as wish the injured a speedy recovery."

UP CM Yogi Adityanath also took to Twitter to tweet about the incident. He wrote, "The death of migrant workers in a road accident in Auraiya district is unfortunate and sad. My condolences to the bereaved families. Instructions have been given to ensure relief and medical treatment for those injured. A probe has also been ordered..

Meanwhile, a probe has been ordered into the Auraiya incident and a compensation of Rs 2 lakh ex gratia has been announced kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 has been announced for those injured in the accident. At the same time, two police officers have been suspended and both the trucks have been seized; cases have also been filed against the truck drivers.

Amid rising number of deaths of migrants returning via road, UP CM Yogi Adityanath had appealed migrants to avoid travelling on their own. Adityanath, making an appeal, said that nodal officers will help and provide transport for free. All migrants will quarantined when they enter the state, Adityanath said.

In another incident, 5 laboureres were killed Madhya Pradesh's Sagar after the truck they were travelling in overturned. The group began their journey from Maharashtra and they were going towards UP.

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