2 dead as truck hits overcrowded auto in Maharashtra, 6 pilgrims injured

The truck driver is absconding and a case of accidental death has been registered by the Kasa police

A mishap in Dahanu killed two people, including a 10-year-old girl, and injured six people. The Kasa police have arrested the truck driver, Satyendra Yadav, after his truck hit an overcrowded auto-rickshaw near Charoti in Dahanu, late on Friday.

The auto rickshaw was carrying 12 pilgrims and going to Mahalaxmi temple for the annual fair.

The auto rickshaw was carrying 12 passengers, who were on their way to the Mahalaxmi temple in Dahanu to attend an annual temple fair. The speeding truck hit the three-wheeler from behind near the Asian Petrol pump, causing the latter to turn turtle.

The 10-year-old, Prachi Andher died on the spot while the auto-rickshaw driver, Ladkya Nitya Babar (30) succumbed to injuries at Kasa government hospital, said assistant police commissioner of Kasa police station, J Gute. Six other passengers that were injured are undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Babar was carrying more passengers than the capacity of the auto in order to make a fast buck, said Gute.

Yadav has been charged under section 304 (a) (causing death by negligence) of the Indian penal code, said assistant police inspector Gute

Since the temple fair at Mahalaxmi temple started, three people have died and 19 have been injured in four different accidents over the last 10 days.