LUCKNOW: An SUV overturned after its tyre burst in Maharajganj on Monday morning, killing at least three students and injuring 11 others, including the driver.
The students were on their way to appear for their Class 10 board exam at 7am when the accident took place near a petrol pump in Sikandra Jeetpur, under Brijmanganj police station limits. The sudden crash triggered panic, drawing locals to the scene, who helped pull the students from the wrecked vehicle.
Upon receiving the information, police arrived at the spot and rushed the injured students to the district hospital, where doctors declared three of them dead.
Victims identifiedThe deceased were identified as Chandni (17), Prati (17), and Gayatri (17). Those critically injured include Nandini (17), Chandni (16), Priyanka (17), Rimjhim (18), Manisha (16), Soni (18), and the driver, Riyaz. Four other injured students are yet to be identified.
Eyewitnesses reported that the Bolero was travelling at over 100 km/h when the tyre burst, causing the driver to lose control, resulting in the vehicle overturning.
The deceased students belonged to villages Samardhira, Vishunpur, Karmaha Buzurg, and Karmaha in Purandarpur police station limits. They were heading to their examination centre, located 15 km away from their homes, when the accident occurred just 250 metres before the centre around 7.30am.