Kushinagar (UP), April 2 Three women were killed and around 18 others were injured after a tractor-drawn cart carrying devotees overturned and plunged into the Gandak canal in Kushinagar district, Uttar Pradesh, police said on Thursday.
The incident occurred near the Siswa regulator, under the jurisdiction of the Khadda police station, around 8 pm on Wednesday, when the cart, which was carrying nearly 25 devotees, overturned.
According to police, the devotees were travelling from Mamkhor Barhara village in the Ghughli area of Maharajganj district to attend the Chaitra Ram Navami fair at Bhaisaha Ghat when the accident occurred.
Preliminary findings indicate that the accident happened when the hook connecting the cart to the tractor broke, causing it to overturn and fall into the canal, officials said.
A total of 21 people sustained injuries and were rushed to the Kushinagar Medical College, where doctors declared Meera Devi (57) dead.
Later, two more women, Kismati Devi (51) and Nirmala (45), died during treatment, bringing the total death toll to three, officials added.
Khadda Station House Officer Sandeep Singh said that some passengers managed to jump off the cart and save themselves.
The bodies of the deceased have been sent for a post-mortem examination, and further investigation into the incident is underway, police added.