Lakhimpur Kheri highway accident leaves 10 dead, PM Modi announces Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia

At least 10 people were killed after a van collided head-on with a truck on the Sisaiya-Lakhimpur National Highway in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri early Monday morning.

The accident took place around 7 am near Barheta village under the Isa Nagar police station limits, between Unchgaon and Bharehta villages, when the van was travelling from Lakhimpur to Sisaiya. According to officials, the collision was so severe that most of the passengers died on the spot.

Circle Officer of Dhaurahra, Shamsher Bahadur Singh, said all nine passengers travelling in the van, along with the driver, were killed in the crash.


District Magistrate Anjani Kumar Singh told reporters that nine people died at the accident site, while one person succumbed to injuries during treatment at the district hospital.

Police have so far identified seven of the deceased as Jaideep Singh (25), Pawan (23), Sohan (21), Ram Goyal (42), Sahajram (35), and Pappu (18), all residents of Bahraich district, and Adnan Khan (15), a resident of Lakhimpur Kheri district. Officials said efforts are underway to establish the identities of the remaining victims.

The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital, while the bodies of the deceased have been sent for post-mortem examination. Authorities said further investigation into the accident is ongoing.

Condoling the deaths, Yogi Adityanath called the incident “heartbreaking and soul-wrenching” in a post on X. The Chief Minister said instructions had been issued to the local administration to provide immediate assistance to the injured and affected families.

Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of those killed. The Prime Minister also announced financial assistance of Rs 50,000 for those injured in the accident.

“The news of the loss of lives in the road accident that occurred in Lakhimpur Kheri is extremely heartbreaking,” President Droupadi Murmu said in a post on X, offering condolences to the bereaved families and praying for the speedy recovery of the injured.

Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak also condoled the loss of lives in the accident.

(With inputs from agencies)