LUCKNOW: At least three people were killed and four others injured after a speeding truck collided head-on with a Scorpio SUV on the Ayodhya-Lucknow National Highway in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya district on Thursday morning, police said.The accident occurred at around 7 am near Mubarakganj under the jurisdiction of Raunahi police station. According to preliminary information, the Scorpio was travelling from Lucknow towards Ayodhya when it collided with an oncoming truck.The impact of the collision was so severe that the SUV was completely mangled, with its wheels ripped off and scattered across the road. The vehicle was crushed beyond recognition, trapping the occupants inside. Seven people were travelling in the Scorpio at the time of the accident.Local residents rushed to the scene after hearing the crash and alerted the police and ambulance services. Rescue teams, assisted by bystanders, broke the vehicle’s windows to free those trapped inside. Three occupants were declared dead at the scene, while the four injured were taken by ambulance to the district hospital, where they are undergoing treatment.The collision left shattered glass, vehicle debris and blood scattered across the highway, causing a major traffic jam. Police later used a crane to remove the damaged truck and SUV from the road, after which traffic was restored.Raunahi Station House Officer Ratan Sharma said the bodies of the three deceased had been sent for post-mortem examination. Their identities had not been established at the time of filing this report. He added that the four injured remain under medical care and that the exact cause of the accident is yet to be determined.Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognisance of the accident and expressed condolences to the bereaved families. He directed officials to ensure the injured receive proper medical treatment and instructed the district administration to extend all possible assistance to the families of the deceased. The Chief Minister also wished the injured a speedy recovery.
