Over a dozen farmers were feared drowned when the tractor-trolley they were traveling in plunged into a river in Pali area of Hardoi district on Saturday morning.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the incident and asked the district administration and local police officials to expedite the rescue operation.
Eight of the people on the ill-fated tractor-trolley swam to the bank of the river while others were still missing. There were around 25-30 farmers on the tractor-trolley. They were returning to their homes after selling goods in a market in the area.
The rescue teams were at the scene and the drivers were searching for the missing victims. The tractor-trolley is also missing.
Reports said the farmers had done to Nizampur where a weekly wholesale market is held near a culvert to sell cucumbers. After selling their produce they were returning to their homes in Begrajpur village on the other side of river Garrah by a tractor-trolley. When the tractor-trolley was crossing the bridge over the river, its driver lost control over the wheels after one of its tyres deflated and the tractor-trolley plunged into the river.