Ten Dead in Lakhimpur Kheri Collision as Magic Van Hits Speeding Truck

Teacher and engineer among victims in head-on crash on Pilibhit-Basti Highway

Ten people lost their lives in a devastating collision between a Magic vehicle and a speeding truck on the Pilibhit-Basti Highway in Lakhimpur Kheri early Monday morning. The accident, which occurred near Adlispur village around 7.30 am, left nine passengers dead at the scene, while another victim succumbed to injuries at the hospital hours later.

The Magic van was travelling from Lakhimpur towards Sisaiya when it collided head-on with a truck approaching from the opposite direction. The impact was so severe that several passengers became trapped between the seats with fatal head injuries. Two people were thrown out onto the road following the collision.

The deceased included Gayatri, 44, a government primary school teacher from Sitapur, and Jaiveer Singh, 25, an engineer who had recently resigned from his Mumbai-based position to take up a new job in Qatar. Also among the dead was Rajesh Goyal, 54, a businessman from Bahraich district.

Truck Driver Abandons Vehicle

The truck, registered as UP 14 HT 5176, was loaded with sacks of rice polish and carried a Ghaziabad number plate. According to police, the vehicle is registered in the name of Sher Singh, a Bareilly resident and second owner of the truck. The driver fled the scene immediately after the crash, abandoning the vehicle.

"We have seized the truck and launched a search operation for the driver," said Khamaria Circle Officer Shamsher Bahadur Singh. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident is ongoing.

Eyewitness Accounts Point to Overtaking

Village head Pradeep Verma of Naya Gaon, who witnessed the aftermath, suggested the Magic van's driver may have been attempting to overtake another vehicle when the collision occurred. "The condition of the Magic vehicle indicates an overtaking manoeuvre was underway," Verma told local authorities.

He recounted how locals worked to rescue survivors immediately after the crash. "Nine passengers died instantly. One young man was still alive, struggling inside. We broke open the vehicle gates to pull him out and rushed him to hospital, but he could not be saved," Verma said.

Victims Span Multiple Districts

Police have identified nine of the ten victims. Two brothers, Pawan and Sohan, aged 23 and 21 respectively, were residents of Moorteeha village in Bahraich. Adnan, a 15-year-old from Sisaiya village in Dhaurahara, also perished in the crash. Other identified victims included Pappu, 18, from Devdattpur, Shahzad, 35, from Kakraha Moorteeha, and Julekha, 55, from Dhaurahara. One victim's identity was still being confirmed at the time of reporting.

Dr Amit Kumar Singh, superintendent at CHC Khamaria, confirmed that two women and seven men were brought to the hospital following the accident. "Several bodies were severely crushed in the impact. One critically injured man was referred to the district hospital but died en route," Dr Singh said.

Engineer's Hopes Cut Short

Jaiveer Singh was among the most prominent victims. The 25-year-old had resigned from his power company position in Mumbai on 16 May after securing a placement in Qatar. He was scheduled to fly from Pune to Doha on 21 May and had returned home to meet his family before the international relocation.

His uncle Jitendra shared details of Jaiveer's plans. "He had secured a new job offer and was excited about the opportunity. He was coming home for a few days before flying out," he said. Jaiveer's younger brother Prakash expressed the family's devastation: "He was the only earning member of our family. This accident has taken away our only support."

Teacher's Final Morning

Gayatri had stepped out early Monday morning to reach her primary school in Mihimpurwa, Bahraich, where she had been teaching for several years. The 44-year-old from Sitapur never reached her school. Her sudden death sent shockwaves through her educational institution and the community she served.

Rajesh Goyal, the businessman among the deceased, had travelled to Lakhimpur to visit his brother-in-law Pawan Singhal and was returning to Bahraich when tragedy struck.

National Response

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over the incident and announced financial assistance of ₹2 lakh each for the families of the deceased. The announcement came shortly after police confirmed the death toll and initiated formal investigations into the collision.