Kanpur: Three persons were burnt alive after two trailer trucks collided head-on and caught fire as darkness shrouded the Banda-Jhansi-Mirzapur National Highway in Banda district early Thursday.ASP Mavis Tak said the accident occurred near Munderi turn due to darkness, with both trailers’ doors locked, trapping the drivers and helpers inside. Suresh Pandey (55), driver of a gravel-laden trailer from Sultanpur, and Suraj Nath (50), driver of an empty trailer from Azamgarh, along with his helper Shani (30), died on the spot. Pandey’s helper, Abhishek (23), managed to jump out of the bus and was admitted to the district hospital. In his police statement, he said: “We were carrying gravel in the trailer. It was dark, and as we neared the railway crossing, our truck hit a trailer coming from the other side. The other trailer’s bright headlights blinded our driver, and we crashed, catching fire. I managed to jump out and move away, but the driver was stuck inside.“On being alerted, fire brigade personnel rushed to the spot, but by the time the flames were brought under control, both vehicles were completely charred. tnn
