Six killed, over two dozen injured as bus overturns in UP's Baghpat

Six people were killed and more than two dozen others injured after a pickup vehicle carrying passengers from Rajasthan to Budaun overturned after hitting a road divider in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat district on Monday, police said.

The accident took place around 12.30 am in the Khekra police station area, when the vehicle overturned after hitting the divider, police said.

Superintendent of Police Suraj Rai said four Police Response Vehicles (PRVs) of Dial 112, ambulance services and personnel from the Khekra police station reached the spot after being informed that a vehicle carrying 32 people had overturned. Rescue and relief operations were then launched.

The injured were taken to the Community Health Centres in Khekra and Baghpat, as well as the district hospital in Baghpat. Those with serious injuries were referred to higher medical centres for specialised treatment, police said.

Injured passenger Kunwar Pal said most of the passengers were asleep when the accident happened. "Suddenly, there was a loud noise and the vehicle overturned, following which screams were heard at the spot," Pal said.

SP Rai said the driver told police that another vehicle had hit the pickup from behind, causing the accident. However, he said police were investigating to determine the actual cause of the crash.

Medical College CMS Ajit Chaudhary told PTI that six people had been confirmed dead in the accident. He said 12 injured passengers were undergoing treatment at the medical college, four of them in critical condition.

Police are also trying to contact the relatives of those killed and injured and provide them with necessary assistance.

Police have appealed to family members seeking information about the deceased and injured to contact Baghpat Police at 9454417383.   (with inputs from PTI)