Kushinagar road accident: 6 killed, 2 injured as van collides with trailer; what happened near Hata?

A journey home after a family celebration turned into a tragedy in Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar district. Six people were killed and two others seriously injured when an Omni van carrying eight occupants collided head-on with a trailer truck late on Sunday night. The victims were returning from a relative’s tilak ceremony when the crash occurred near Tharuadih, under the Hata police station area.

The collision was so severe that the van was crushed, leaving those inside trapped. As police and rescue teams reached the spot, the scale of the damage made it difficult to pull the occupants out.

How did the Kushinagar van-trailer accident happen?

According to Kushinagar police, the accident took place around 12.15 am on the Hata-Pipraich road, near Tharuadih Hanuman temple. The Omni van was travelling from Hata towards Kaptanganj after its occupants attended a tilak ceremony. A trailer truck approaching from Ahirauli Bazaar towards Hata collided with it.

Additional Superintendent of Police Siddharth Verma said six of the eight people in the van died, while the two survivors were taken to BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur for advanced treatment. The bodies were sent for post-mortem examination.

The Times of India reported that the force of the impact left the van badly mangled and all eight occupants trapped inside. Rescue personnel used gas cutters to cut open the vehicle and bring them out. Both vehicles were taken into police custody.

Who were the six people killed in the Kushinagar crash?

All six deceased were residents of Bhaluhi village in the Kaptanganj police station area. The Times of India identified them as Kanhaiya Prasad, 45; Ramvilas, 68; Ram Milan, 38; Mridul Mishra, 38; Ranjay Gupta, 38; and Mithilesh Gupta, 22.

The report said Ramvilas was the father of Kanhaiya Prasad and Ram Milan, while the two injured survivors, Ayush and Aryan, were Ram Milan’s sons. The death of multiple members of the same family has left the village grieving.

Ranjay Gupta was serving in the Central Reserve Police Force and was reportedly posted in Chhattisgarh. He had returned home on leave for Dussehra and was due to resume duty on November 5, the newspaper reported.

What has the police investigation revealed so far?

A significant detail emerged after the accident. Kushinagar Superintendent of Police Keshav Kumar told the Times of India that the van driver was prima facie found to be in an inebriated condition. Police were also looking for the trailer driver, whose whereabouts were initially unknown. The SP said the driver had been traced and would be arrested soon.

These are preliminary findings; the precise circumstances and responsibility for the collision remain subject to investigation. Police said further legal action would follow.

What has Yogi Adityanath said about the Kushinagar accident?

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed condolences to the families and directed officials to reach the site, speed up relief work and ensure that the injured received proper medical care. He also asked the administration to contact the bereaved families and provide all possible assistance.

For Bhaluhi, the immediate concern is now the recovery of the two injured survivors. For investigators, the task is to establish exactly how the two vehicles collided on a road that became the scene of a devastating late-night crash.

(With inputs from ANI)