Five pilgrims from Karnataka's Bidar killed, nine injured in Varanasi accident

Bidar: Five pilgrims from Bidar were killed while nine others sustained grievous injuries after a Cruiser they were travelling in rammed into a stationary lorry near Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh in the early hours of Friday.

Deceased have been identified as Lakshmi (57), Neelamma (62), Santosh Kumar (45), Sunita (40) and Kalavati (40), all residents of Ladageri in Bidar. The injured Sulochana, Sujatha, Kavitha, Anita, Kushi, Ganesh, Sai, Bhagwant and Shiva are being treated at the BHU Hospital in Varanasi.

According to Bidar Superintendent of Police Pradeep Gunti, “A group of 14 members of the Tokre Koli community and residents of Ladageri area in Bidar had left for Prayagraj and Varanasi on February 18. After taking a holy dip at Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, they left for Varanasi on Thursday. While returning home from Varanasi, their vehicle tail-ended a lorry under the Varanasi’s Mirza Murara police station. Five pilgrims died on the spot while nine others were rushed to the BHU hospital.”

Ministers Eshwar Khandre and Rahim Khan expressed condolences on the loss of lives in the Varanasi accident. Khandre, the district in-charge minister, said that the district administration is in touch with an official from Karnataka in Uttar Pradesh and necessary arrangements would be made to bring back the mortal remains. He further said necessary help will be extended to the injured who are undergoing treatment at a hospital in Varanasi.