Saharanpur, April 10 Three labourers were killed and two were injured after a truck carrying sand overturned near an under-construction bridge here early Friday morning, police said.
The incident occurred around 2:30 am near Kheda Mughal in the Nagal police station area. The victims were sleeping in makeshift tin shelters by the roadside after finishing work at the construction site, police said.
According to Circle Officer (Deoband) Abhitesh Singh, the truck was coming from the Kheda Mughal side when it lost control and overturned, causing the sand it was carrying to fall on the labourers sleeping on the roadside.
Upon receiving information about the incident, the local police reached the spot and launched a rescue operation with the help of other workers that lasted around two hours. The labourers were pulled out by removing the sand with shovels and rushed to a nearby hospital, he said.
Doctors declared three of them – Asgar, Istkar, and Shokeen, all residents of Mahmoodpur village in the Mirzapur area – dead, while two others – Gulfam and Karmveer – are undergoing treatment, police said.
The truck was transporting sand to the construction site. Its documents were found to be in order during preliminary checks. The truck driver fled the scene after the incident, and efforts are being made to trace him, they said.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended his condolences to the bereaved families and directed senior district officials to reach the site and expedite relief operations.