Meerut: Two people died and three others sustained severe injuries after a bus carrying Gujarat-based devotees from Ayodhya's Ram Mandir to Haridwar collided with a brick-laden tractor in Bareilly early Saturday morning, police said.
Nilesh Mishra, circle officer (highway), Bareilly, said, "The deceased have been identified as Ashish Singh (30) and bus helper Lallan Kumar (28). The injured—Sunil, Vinod, and Indumati—are undergoing treatment. The accident occurred around 6:30 AM when the bus driver attempted to overtake another vehicle and crashed into the tractor ahead."
The bus was carrying around 60 devotees at the time. An eyewitness said the impact scattered bricks from the tractor-trolley across the road, causing panic among passengers. The tractor driver fled the scene.
"The bodies have been sent for autopsy, and the remaining devotees were transported to their destination in another bus. The mangled bus and tractor have been seized, and an investigation is underway," Mishra added.