A devastating road accident claimed six lives in the early hours of Tuesday near Barkheda on the Katra-Jalalabad Road in Shahjahanpur district. Among the deceased were four childhood friends riding a motorcycle who collided head-on with an oncoming van while allegedly attempting to overtake a truck.
The victims on the bike — Ravi, Aakash, Dinesh, and Abhishek — aged between 18 and 22, were returning home after attending the wedding of Ravi’s cousin in the Kaanth area. According to Superintendent of Police Rajesh Dwivedi, the accident occurred around 2am, when the bike, reportedly at high speed, crashed through the windshield of a Maruti Echo van.
The violent impact severely injured the van’s driver, Sudhir Kumar, and co-passenger Sonu, a daily wage labourer. Both succumbed to their injuries. Two other passengers in the van were rescued after a delay and are undergoing treatment at Shahjahanpur Medical College.
Emergency responders reported that three of the victims died on the spot and were declared dead at Madnapur Community Health Centre. Abhishek later died during treatment at the medical college.
Aakash’s father, Raju, shared that the four young men had been inseparable since childhood. “They were all close friends and had gone together to attend a wedding. We had no idea this would be their last journey,” he said, grief-stricken.
Police continue to investigate the circumstances leading to the crash. Authorities have urged motorists to adhere to traffic rules and avoid speeding, especially during night-time travel.
Sources By Agencies
