11 dead in UP's Shahjahanpur as truck loaded with gravel overturns on their bus
Shahjahanpur (UP) (PTI): Eleven pilgrims headed to the Purnagiri temple in Uttarakhand were buried to death when a gravel-loaded dumper truck overturned on their bus and emptied its content into their vehicle, a senior official said Sunday.
Ten other pilgrims were seriously injured in the Saturday night incident and have been admitted to the Government Medical College here, the official said.
Shahjahanpur Superintendent of Police Ashok Kumar Meena told PTI the incident occurred at Hajiyapur village under the Khutar police station area when the privately-owned bus had halted at a roadside eatery on its way to the temple in Uttarakhand's Tanakpur.
While some of the devotees, all were from Sitapur district, had alighted for dinner others waited inside the bus.
Suddenly, the dumper truck carrying gravel lost control, overturned and fell onto their bus, unloading the content on the waiting pilgrims, he said.
According to Meena, Sudhanshu (7), Aditya (8), Ajit (15), Rohini (20), Pramod (30), Seema (30), Suman Devi (36), Ramgopal (48), Shiv Shankar (48), Chutki (50) died on the spot, while Sonavati (45) succumbed during treatment.
The local police and villagers rescued some of the passengers from inside the bus.
The SP and District Magistrate Umesh Pratap Singh also reached the spot after they were informed about the incident. The driver of the dumper fled from the spot and the police are looking for him.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and directed the district administration to ensure the injured people are provided proper treatment.
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NIA registers case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal
New Delhi (PTI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday registered a case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal, officials said.
The move came following a directive by the Union Home Ministry in this regard, they said.
In pursuance to the home ministry's order, the anti-terror agency on Sunday registered a case, which was originally filed at Uttar Kashi police station, Bhangar division, Kolkata on Saturday, and took up the investigation, an NIA spokesperson said in a late night statement.
"The case pertains to recovery of 79 crude bombs and other incriminating materials by Kolkata police, which were being stored at a spot, thereby endangering human life and property," the spokesperson said.
Earlier in the day, the Election Commission had directed the West Bengal Police to launch a special drive to arrest those involved in illegal manufacturing of crude bombs in the poll-bound state, an official said.
It asserted that all cases related to the making of any such explosive would be probed by the National Investigation Agency, the official said.
The directive came after the police recovered a large number of crude bombs from the house of a person, allegedly a TMC worker, at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district, days ahead of the second and final phase of the assembly polls in the state.
The explosives were recovered during a search at the residence of Rafikul Islam following specific inputs, the official said.
The poll panel also issued a warning to senior police officers across the state over any lapse in maintaining law and order before the April 29 polling.
The first phase of the assembly elections in West Bengal was held on April 23, while the second phase will take place on April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.
A record 93.19 per cent turnout has been recorded in the first round of polling. Bhangar will vote in the second phase.
