4 of family killed as SUV rams truck on Bundelkhand e-way in Banda

Jhansi/Kanpur: Four members of a family were killed and a teenage girl was critically injured after their SUV rammed into an LPG-laden truck on the Bundelkhand Expressway in Banda on Thursday.

Fortunately, all the gas cylinders were empty as the truck was returning from Chitrakoot after delivering its load.

The accident occurred while the victims were travelling back to Mahoba from Azamgarh after worshipping their family deity. Four SUV occupants died on the spot, while a 16-year-old girl survived with injuries and was referred to a higher medical centre for treatment.

SP Banda Palash Bansal said preliminary inquiry suggested that the SUV driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel, causing the vehicle to lose balance. The impact was so severe that nearly half of the car was dragged under the truck. Several engine components broke off and, according to reports, pierced the chest of one of the victims. The 15-foot-long SUV was crushed down to about six feet in length.

The deceased were identified as Ajit Vishwakarma (38), a businessman, his mother Premshila (55), aunt Nisha (40), grandmother Chandrawati (80), and Ria (16). Ajit’s younger sister Riya, 16, was critically injured.

All three airbags — located near the steering wheel, roof, and seatbelt area — were deployed but reportedly ruptured on impact. The force of the explosion is said to have caused fatal head injuries to Ajit and his mother Premshila, who were seated in the front.

A case has been registered against the truck driver and the bodies have been sent for postmortem.