KATHMANDU: A group of friends from Ghaziabad met with a fatal accident on their way to a temple in Nainital. Six individuals lost their lives, while one sustained critical injuries when their car collided with a truck on NH-9 in Hapur, India. The accident occurred around 12:30 am near Brij Ghat toll plaza in Garh Mukhteshwar.

According to Additional SP Raj Kumar Agrawal, the car, carrying seven occupants, was speeding when it breached the divider and entered the opposite lane, where it collided with the truck. Emergency responders used gas cutters to extricate the victims from the wreckage. Despite efforts, six of them succumbed to their injuries after being rushed to a nearby health facility.

ASP Agrawal speculated that the driver may have either fallen asleep at the wheel or the car suffered a tyre burst, contributing to the tragic accident. An investigation into the incident is currently underway, with authorities yet to receive a formal complaint.

The deceased were identified as Rohit Saini (33), who was driving at the time of the accident; Anup Singh (38), owner of a tour and travels agency; Sandeep Kumar (35), a car mechanic; Nikki Jain (33) and Raju Jain (36), both labourers; and Vipin Soni (34), a carpenter. All of them hailed from the Loni area in Ghaziabad and were en route to Kainchi Dham temple in Nainital.