A tractor-trolley overturned and fell into a pond near a village in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur district on Saturday, killing at least 22 people and critically injuring several others, a senior official said, reported PTI.
He added that the incident happened in the evening near Bhadeuna village, which is within the Saar police station's jurisdiction.
The devotees were heading back to Unnao. According to the official, the tractor-trolley was on its way to Ghatampur after the passengers attended a "mundan" ceremony at Fatehpur's Chandrika Devi temple.
After the collision, the police arrived at the scene and collaborated with the villagers to begin the rescue operation.
The injured were immediately transported to the community health centre for treatment, reports news agency ANI.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences over the tractor-trolley accident in Kanpur and announces an ex-gratia payment from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) of Rs. 2 lakh to the surviving family members of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 to the injured.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed his condolences following the tractor accident, assuring those injured of proper treatment and wishing them a speedy recovery, he said, "the District Magistrate and other senior officers have been directed to reach the spot immediately and conduct relief and rescue operations on a war footing and make arrangements for proper treatment of the injured. Wishing speedy recovery to the injured."
Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed his condolences for the tractor-trolley accident in Kanpur, taking to Twitter, he wrote, "The road accident in Kanpur district of Uttar Pradesh is heart-wrenching. I express my deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives in this. Also wish a speedy recovery to those injured in the accident. The local administration is engaged in all possible help."
(With Inputs From Agencies)