An unfortunate collision on the Budaun-Meerut state highway in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr district, India, resulted in the death of 11 laborers and left 26 others injured on Sunday, August 18, 2024. The laborers were returning home to celebrate the Raksha Bandhan festival when the accident happened in the Salempur area, about nine miles from Bulandshahr’s district headquarters.
The laborers, employed by the Britannia company, were heading to their hometown in Aligarh. The victims consisted of men, women, and children who had joined the journey from various locations, including Dadri. The group was on their way home to celebrate the festival with their families when the accident occurred.
“Ten people were killed and 27 injured when a pickup van traveling from Ghaziabad to Sambhal collided with a private bus,” said Chandra Prakash Singh, the District Magistrate. Subsequently, another individual succumbed to his injuries. The collision left the van in ruins and the bus with significant frontal damage.
Emergency responders were immediately dispatched to the scene, with the injured being transported to nearby hospitals located in Bulandshahr, Meerut, and Aligarh.
The crash site was in disarray as local villagers hastened to provide assistance before emergency services arrived. Social media was flooded with videos and pictures of the scene, underscoring the area’s road safety concerns. Shlok Kumar, the Bulandshahr SSP, confirmed all the deceased were men, while women and children were among the injured. He assured that the injured were receiving optimal care in the hospitals.
Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, expressed his condolences and directed local officials to provide top-level medical care for the injured. The state government also announced financial compensation for the victims’ families: approximately $2,400 for the families of the deceased and around $600 for the injured.
Initial investigations indicate that both vehicles involved in the crash had current fitness documents. However, the exact cause of the collision remains under investigation, with local reports hypothesizing that the bus driver might have fallen asleep at the wheel. As the investigation continues, authorities have pledged to take stringent action against those found culpable.
This tragic incident has cast a pall over the Raksha Bandhan festival, a traditionally joyous time of family reunions and celebrations.
Raksha Bandhan, also known as Rakhi, is a Hindu festival celebrated predominantly in India and other parts of South Asia. It pays tribute to the bond between siblings and usually coincides with the full-moon day of the Hindu lunar month of Shravana, often falling in August.
During the Raksha Bandhan festival, sisters tie a protective thread or “rakhi” around their brothers’ wrists. This symbolizes the sister’s wishes for her brother’s welfare and the brother’s vow to protect his sister throughout her life. The ritual typically includes the exchange of gifts and sweets, as well as a traditional aarti, a ceremonial prayer involving a lighted lamp.
The festival underscores the importance of family ties and the mutual care and protection between siblings. Over time, Raksha Bandhan has evolved to include close friends and extended family members, capturing the essence of love and protection beyond just sibling relationships.
