7 Dead as Bus Runs Over Sleeping Pilgrims in Bulandshahr

The seven people were returning from Vaishno Devi shrine, according to reports.

The seven people were returning from Vaishno Devi, according to reports.

(Photo: ANI)

Seven members of a family were killed when a bus rammed into a group of sleeping pilgrims near Narora on Friday morning, 11 October, police said.

The driver is reported to be absconding after the accident, the police was quoted by IANS as saying.

Senior Superintendent of Police Santosh Kumar Singh told PTI that the victims, who were residents of Chandpa, had gone on a pilgrimage to the Vaishno Devi shrine along with some relatives and other villagers.

While returning, they got off from from the bus in Narora and slept on the road along Gandhi Ganga Ghat. At around 4 am, another bus that was also carrying pilgrims crushed the victims to death, the official told PTI.

The deceased were identified as Phoolwati (65), Mala Devi (32), Sheela Devi (35), Yogita (5), Kalpana (4), Renu (22) and Sanjana (4).

After receiving information about the incident, Dibai Circle Officer Vikram Singh and Dibai Sub-Divisional Magistrate Sanjay Kumar reached the spot and sent the bodies of the victims for post-mortem.

The police also calmed the protests that broke out after locals gathered at the spot following the accident.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the incident and announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the kin of the deceased.

He said those responsible should be punished strictly.

(With inputs from IANS, PTI)