Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh: A tragic accident claimed the lives of at least 10 Maha Kumbh devotees and left 19 others injured when a Bolero car collided with a bus on the Prayagraj-Mirzapur highway around midnight on Friday.
The fatal crash occurred near the Meja police station in Prayagraj at approximately 2 AM. The victims, pilgrims from Chhattisgarh’s Korba district, were en route to the Sangam for a holy dip when their vehicle reportedly lost control and crashed into a bus carrying devotees from Madhya Pradesh’s Rajgarh. Authorities suspect that the Bolero’s driver may have dozed off, leading to the accident.
Official Response
DCP Yamunanagar Vivek Chandra Yadav confirmed that the bodies have been sent to Swaroop Rani Nehru Medical Hospital for post-mortem, while necessary legal procedures are underway. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to expedite relief efforts and ensure proper medical treatment for the injured.
Series of Maha Kumbh Tragedies
The Prayagraj accident is the second fatal incident involving Maha Kumbh devotees this week.
- Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh: On Tuesday, seven pilgrims returning from the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj lost their lives when their mini-bus collided with a truck near Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur district. The accident occurred around 8:30 AM when a truck, reportedly driving on the wrong side of the highway, crashed into the mini-bus. Several passengers were trapped in the wreckage.
- Kaimur, Bihar: On the same day, another collision between a truck and an auto claimed three more lives in Bihar’s Kaimur district near the Muthani area under the Mohania police station. The victims were also returning from the Maha Kumbh Mela.
Authorities have urged drivers to exercise caution, especially during long journeys, to prevent further tragedies.
