6 Kumbh pilgrims killed in accident on Varanasi-Prayagraj Highway; woman’s severed head falls on road
PTC Web Desk: A devastating road accident on the Varanasi-Prayagraj highway claimed the lives of six Karnataka pilgrims, including a couple, when their cruiser jeep collided with a stationary truck. The impact was so severe that a woman’s head was severed and thrown onto the road.
The accident occurred around 7 am on Friday near Mirzamurad on GT Road. The vehicle, a Karnataka-registered cruiser jeep, was carrying 11 persons, including the driver. The group was travelling to the Maha Kumbh 2025 when tragedy struck.
According to the police, the truck was parked on the highway when the high-speed jeep crashed into it from behind. Preliminary investigations suggest that the driver may have dozed off at the wheel, leading to the collision. The impact was so intense that the front section of the jeep became completely embedded in the truck.
Eyewitnesses rushed to the scene upon hearing screams for help. However, the victims were trapped inside the wreckage, making rescue operations extremely difficult.
A crane was called to separate the vehicles, and a gas cutter was used to rescue the victims, taking over an hour to complete the operation. The bodies were severely mangled, and one woman’s head was found several feet away from the crash site, likely due to being outside the window at the time of impact.
The police said the deceased were residents of Karnataka’s Bidar district. Among them, four have been identified as: Santosh Kumar, Sunita, Ganesh and Shivkumar. Five passengers sustained critical injuries and have been admitted to the trauma centre at Banaras Hindu University (BHU). They are currently unable to provide any statements due to their severe condition.
At the time of the accident, the truck driver was reportedly not present at the scene. Sources said he had parked the vehicle about two hours before the incident, citing mechanical issues. He had informed a nearby shopkeeper before leaving the area, and his whereabouts remain unknown.
The police have launched an investigation and are also searching for the truck’s owner. The authorities have alerted the Karnataka Police about the tragedy and are making arrangements for the deceased's families.
- With inputs from agencies
