Three Kanwariyas from Aligarh were killed after a speeding container truck allegedly rammed their motorcycle from behind on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway in Meerut early Wednesday. The driver fled the scene after the accident. The three were travelling together to Haridwar to collect holy Ganga water during the ongoing Kanwar Yatra, police said.
The accident occurred near the Bhojpur stretch of the expressway. According to police, the impact of the collision was so severe that the motorcycle was completely mangled and the three devotees were thrown several metres onto the road.
The deceased were identified as Pradeep, 26, Rajkumar, 24, and Gyan Prakash, 29, all residents of Aligarh. Police said the trio was travelling together on a motorcycle to Haridwar to collect Ganga jal when an unidentified container truck allegedly struck their bike from behind. The driver fled the scene immediately after the accident, leaving the victims critically injured.
Superintendent of police (SP) Rural Abhijeet Kumar said police are scanning CCTV footage from cameras installed along the expressway to identify the container truck and its driver. Efforts are underway to trace the absconding vehicle, and legal action will be initiated after the accused is identified.
Following the incident, Delhi-Meerut Expressway project head Anil Sharma deployed the special rescue team and ambulance stationed for the Kanwar Yatra. The injured men were rushed to a hospital in Modinagar, where doctors declared all three dead after examination.
{{/usCountry}}Following the incident, Delhi-Meerut Expressway project head Anil Sharma deployed the special rescue team and ambulance stationed for the Kanwar Yatra. The injured men were rushed to a hospital in Modinagar, where doctors declared all three dead after examination.
{{/usCountry}}Police reached the spot, conducted a preliminary investigation and seized the damaged motorcycle. The bodies were sent for postmortem examination.
The accident occurred during the peak phase of the annual Kanwar Yatra, when lakhs of Shiva devotees travel to Haridwar to collect holy Ganga water before returning to their hometowns, leading to heavy traffic movement across western Uttar Pradesh.