Tragic SUV Crash Near Agra Claims Five Lives
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
New Delhi, March 20 (NationPress) In a devastating incident early Friday morning, five individuals tragically lost their lives and four others sustained serious injuries when an out-of-control SUV collided with a tree along the Etawah-Agra highway in Uttar Pradesh.
The victims were on their way back from a pilgrimage to the renowned Kela Devi temple in Rajasthan when the crash occurred near Pai village in the jurisdiction of Chitrahat police station, as reported by officials.
Initial investigations by local police revealed that the vehicle was transporting a family of devotees during the late-night hours when it suddenly veered off course and struck a tree. The collision was so impactful that the front of the SUV suffered extensive damage, with shards of glass littering the roadway.
According to statements from senior police personnel, the deceased included three men, one woman, and a three-year-old girl. The victims have been identified as 70-year-old Kanta Prasad, 35-year-old son Devendra, 30-year-old daughter-in-law Seema, their three-year-old granddaughter Aradhya, and 20-year-old driver Rishi. The family had just concluded their 'darshan' at the revered Kela Devi shrine before commencing their journey back to Etawah.
The injured have been taken to Safai Medical College Hospital in Etawah, with officials noting that their conditions remain critical.
Authorities have retrieved the bodies for post-mortem examination and are in the process of informing the families of the deceased.
Eyewitnesses and local residents reported that villagers and bystanders arrived at the crash site following the sound of the impact, assisting rescue teams in extracting the victims from the wreckage. Distressed relatives gathered at the hospital and at the accident scene, where shock and sorrow deeply affected the community.
Investigations into the accident's cause are ongoing, with preliminary inquiries indicating that the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel, leading to the SUV's deviation from its path. Detailed findings are anticipated as authorities pursue their investigation.