Ten people, including eight children, died after a pick up van rammed into a mini truck late on Sunday night in Hapur, police said.
The victims were returning to Salepur Kotla village in Dhaulana after attending a wedding in Hapur when the accident occurred. At least 18 people were injured in the accident and have been admitted to various government hospitals, they said.
According to the police, the accident took place at around midnight near Sadikpur village which comes under Hafizpur police station.
“All the occupants of the pick-up truck had come to attend a wedding. There were 10 casualties, while several people have been injured. Prima-facie, it appears that it was a Canter with which the pick-up truck met with an accident. There were almost 30 people in the pick-up. The driver of the truck has fled and we are searching the vehicle,” said Sarvesh Kumar Mishra, SSP Hapur.
The children were all aged between 8 and 13 while one of the two men who died was 20 years old. An FIR under sections 279 (rash driving) and 304 A (death by negligence) of the IPC has been filed against the absconding driver.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief and directed the administration to provide assistance to the families of the injured. The medical expenses are being borne by the Hapur administration while some of the critically injured have been referred to a hospi