Lucknow: Tragedy struck Uttar Pradesh when a tractor trolley carrying pilgrims overturned killing 15 persons, police said. Over a dozen others were injured in the accident that took place in Kasganj, 260 km southwest of Lucknow, the state capital of Uttar Pradesh. Chief Medical Officer, Dr Rajeev Agarwal said that the deceased comprised seven children and eight women.
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They were pronounced dead at the village Community Health Centre of Patiali. He said toll may go up as some injured people are in serious condition. The incident occurred on Saturday when a tractor-trolley, carrying 40 people en route to take a holy bath in the river Ganga in Kadarganj Ghat in Kasganj, overturned and fell into a nearby pond.
Incident occurred on Maghi Purnima
Today being Maghi Purnima, full moon day, considered auspicious by Hindus, people take a dip in holy rivers like Ganga and Yamuna. Superintendent of Police Aparna Kaushik said that tractor-trolley was overloaded and was carrying around 40 people.
She said eyewitnesses claimed that the tractor-trolley was traveling at a considerable speed before losing control and veering off the road, culminating in the fatal plunge.
'Initial rescue was carried out by villagers'
"Initial rescue was carried out by villagers. Police has carried out search twice," the SP said. Transporting people in tractor -trolley is banned, as it is mandated to be used only in agricultural purposes, but the order is generally flouted in rural India and is used in transpoting people.
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