Three Killed, 13 Injured as Truck Hits Auto Returning from Engagement Ceremony in Jhansi

Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh: A tragic road accident in Jhansi claimed the lives of three people, including the bride’s cousin siblings and a priest, while leaving 13 others injured. The incident occurred late Friday night in the Gursarai police station area when a speeding truck collided head-on with an auto-rickshaw returning from an engagement ceremony.

The accident took place near Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Women’s College, about two kilometres from Gursarai. The impact was so severe that the auto-rickshaw was completely wrecked. All the victims were travelling back from an engagement ceremony held at Vineet Palace in the Gursarai area.

According to police, the bride, Rani, a resident of Kairokhar village in Jhansi, was engaged to a groom from Bangra Birona village. After the ceremony, her cousin Narayan Das was driving the auto-rickshaw carrying 16 passengers when a truck coming at high speed from the opposite direction rammed into it. The truck driver fled the scene with the vehicle after the collision.

Rani’s cousin sister Janki and priest Sita Ramaiya Gautam died on the spot. Narayan Das, the auto driver and Rani’s cousin, succumbed to his injuries during treatment. Police have taken custody of the bodies and sent them for post-mortem examination.

Among the injured, Jagwati, Mannu, Jaykunwar, Sheila Devi, Hira Devi, Shivani, and Kallu Pal were referred to Jhansi Medical College. Parvati was admitted to a private hospital in Jhansi, while Draupadi, Jaish, Sachin, Ramwati, and Arvind are undergoing treatment at the Gursarai Community Health Centre (CHC).

Police have launched a search for the absconding truck driver and are investigating the incident. The accident has plunged the families into deep grief, turning what was meant to be a joyous occasion into a devastating tragedy.