Thaindian News

Ballia (Uttar Pradesh), Aug 22 (IANS) As many as 41 devotees, including women and children, were killed and around 20 injured when the tractor-trolley they were riding on overturned and fell into a roadside ditch filled with water in a rural area here Monday, officials said.

“The accident took place in Ballia’s Nagla area when an overloaded tractor-trolley carrying the pilgrims overturned and fell into a ditch,” District Magistrate Madhukar Dwivedi told IANS on telephone. Over 60 people were riding on the trolley.

“The cause behind the accident is yet to be ascertained. Villagers living in the area assisted the district administration and policemen in rescue operations. The injured are being treated at a hospital,” he added.

The state government has announced a compensation of Rs.1 lakh each to the families of those killed.

According to police, the victims were natives of Usmanpur village in Ballia, some 300 km from Lucknow. Of the 41 killed, 30 are females.

“The victims were on their way to Sati Mata temple situated on the outskirts of the neighbouring Ghazipur,” Deputy Superintendent of Police Sudershan Ram Bharti told IANS on telephone.

“While some of the devotees succumbed to injuries caused when the vehicle overturned, others drowned,” he added.