Six migrant workers were killed near Muzaffarnagar after being run over by a Uttar Pradesh state bus on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday, 14 May. At least four others were also injured.
The accident took place place on the Muzaffarnagar-Saharanpur state highway between Ghalauli check-post and Rohana Toll Plaza, around 20 km from Muzaffarnagar, in Uttar Pradesh, PTI reported.
The bus driver, who locals suspect was under the influence of alcohol, has been arrested, the report further said.
The victims are said to have been trying to walk their way back home to Gopalganj in Bihar from Punjab, where they were working as labourers.
The police said two of those who died have been identified as Bijender (25) and Harsh (20), while the rest have not been identified as of yet.
"They were labourers from Bihar. Six people died. Their post-mortem has been done. Their bodies will be sent to their relatives in Bihar. Four others were injured, with two of them being released after being given first-aid. The bus driver has been arrested," Muzaffarnagar ADM (Finance) Alok Kumar was quoted by ANI as saying regarding the incident.
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath announced Rs 2 lakh ex gratia amount each to the next of kin of the deceased and a compensation of Rs 50,000 each for the injured. Officers have been directed to send bodies of the workers to Bihar and the Saharanpur divisional commissioner has been asked to submit a report after investigation, the CM's office said, according to ANI.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)