Jhansi: Four pilgrims, including two children aged six and eight, were killed and 12 others injured after an overloaded tractor-trolley carrying around 30 people overturned when its connecting hook detached from the tractor near Ramnagar town in Chitrakoot district early Monday.The accident took place on the Jhansi-Prayagraj National Highway under Raipura police station limits. The pilgrims were returning home after visiting Chitrakoot for Diwali celebrations and performing rituals.According to officials, the trolley became uncontrollable after its connecting hook came off the tractor and overturned, trapping several occupants underneath. Four pilgrims died on the spot. The deceased were identified as Radhekrishna alias Govardhan, 50, of Prayagraj; Triveni Singh, 50, of Rewa district in Madhya Pradesh; Shivansh, 6; and Pushpraj, 8.Of the 12 injured, who included women, seven were reported to be in serious condition.Police rushed to the spot after receiving information and launched a rescue operation. The injured were taken to the community health centre in Ramnagar, where seven critically injured persons were referred to a higher medical centre in Prayagraj.District magistrate Pulkit Garg and SP Arun Kumar Singh reached the accident site and later visited the hospital to enquire about the condition of the injured. The DM said the accident involved a tractor-trolley bearing a Madhya Pradesh registration number.Eyewitnesses alleged that the tractor-trolley was overloaded and claimed that the driver fled after the accident.
