At least, 24 migrant workers including women were killed and many were injured in a collision between two trucks in Auraiya district of Uttar Pradesh at around 3 am.
According to reports, the injured were admitted to Saifai PG Medical College Hospital in the neighbouring Etawah district. The number of deaths could rise due to the critical condition of the injured migrants. The migrant workers belonged mainly to Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
One of the trucks was loaded with goods and labourers had placed themselves on the sacks when they were thrown on the ground due to the collision.
“Some people had got down from one of the trucks that stopped at a dhaba to have tea. That was when the collision happened. We are still trying figure out why so many people were packed in those vehicles coming from Delhi and Rajasthan. Those injured have been admitted to hospitals,” senior police officer Jai Narayan Singh said.
Visuals of chaos from the site show injured labourers desperately seeking help from locals and policemen after the accident. A large number of policemen can be seen carrying out rescue operations.
“The death of migrant workers in a road accident in Auraiya district is unfortunate and sad. My condolences to the bereaved families.
Instructions have been given to ensure relief and medical treatment for those injured. A probe has also been ordered,” Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath tweeted in Hindi this morning.
Special transport services have been organised by the central government and states for those having no means to commute back home due to the nationwide shutdown yet many are still undertaking journeys of hundreds of kilometres on foot with their families.
Yesterday, Yogi Adityanath had appealed to the migrants in the state to avoid travelling on their own. “I appeal to all the migrant workers to not walk or travel on their own. Inform our nodal officers, they will help and provide you transport for free. All officials have been directed to take migrant workers entering the state to quarantine centers&be provided comfort,” he said.
This unfortunate incident led to strong reactions from the opposition leaders. “I demand that Chief Minister should take action against the officers who didn’t fulfill their responsibilities. Families of those who were killed or injured in this accident should be provided financial assistance. I express my condolences to the bereaved families,” BSP Chief Mayawati said.
“Yesterday, the Chief Minister said that for the labourers who come to UP or pass through state, officers will make arrangements for their food, transit and shelter. It’s unfortunate that CM’s directions are not being taken seriously by officers because of which a big accident occurred today,” she added.
This mishap comes after six migrant workers were run over by an Uttar Pradesh government bus on a highway in the state’s Muzaffarnagar district. Two workers were injured. They had been walking to their respective hometown in Bihar from Punjab. The police said the bus was empty and the driver has been arrested.
Four migrants on the move, including a woman and her daughter, travelling to their villages were killed in separate road accidents earlier this week.
Last week, 16 migrant workers in a group of 20 were killed after a cargo train ran over them while they were sleeping on the tracks in Maharashtra’s Aurangabad.
In this regard, the Supreme Court dismissed a plea raising concerns over migrants, stating that it is outright impossible for the court to monitor the situation and that this responsibility has been vested with the State Government.
News Source: Hindustan Times