Uttar Pradesh: Nine dead as tractor falls into drain in Saharanpur, CM Yogi expresses grief

Saharanpur news: A tractor-trolley fell into a drain near Redhibodki village in the Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, leaving nine people dead, four of them children, police said today (August 24).

The incident took place on Wednesday evening (August 23) in the Tajpura area when a tractor carrying around 50 devotees was on its way to Randaul village for a religious event, Superintendent of Police (SP), City, Abhimanyu Manglik told media.

On Wednesday, police recovered four bodies from the drain. The victims were identified as Sulochana, 58, Manglesh, 50, and Aditi and Arjun, both aged five and 12. Five bodies recovered on Thursday are yet to be identified, Manglik said.

Several people were washed away due to a strong current in the river. A rescue operation is still on to retrieve one missing person, the SP said.

The spot was visited by Saharanpur District Magistrate (DM) Dr Dinesh Chand and SSP Dr Vipin Tada. Tada told media that the villagers had been told not to take the route but the driver disregarded the warning.

Rescue operation underway:

An excavation machine has been called in to assist in the rescue work, the SSP added.

UP CM condolences to bereaved families:

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his grief over the deaths and asked the Saharanpur administration to immediately grant Rs 4 lakh each to victims' kin, an official statement said.

(With PTI inputs) 

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