Four people, including three workers employed at a brick kiln, were killed after a tractor-trolley loaded with bricks overturned on Sultanpur Highway in Lucknow’s Gangaganj area early Saturday morning. The accident occurred at around 4:45 am, leaving the victims trapped beneath the overturned vehicle.
According to police, the tractor-trolley overturned on the highway under circumstances that are still being examined. The impact left all four occupants trapped underneath the vehicle, prompting an immediate rescue operation involving police personnel, fire services and a team associated with the National Highways Authority of India.
Rescue teams reached the accident site soon after receiving information about the incident. An NHAI crane was used to lift the overturned tractor-trolley and free the people trapped beneath it. The victims were subsequently transported by ambulance to the Community Health Centre in Gosainganj for medical attention.
Doctors at the health centre declared three of the victims dead. The fourth victim was found to be critically injured and was referred to a trauma centre for specialised treatment. However, he died while being transported to the hospital, taking the death toll from the accident to four.
Police identified the deceased as Sandeep Rawat, 25, Pitambar Rawat, 35, Pawan Rawat, 25, and Balram Rawat, 40. All four were residents of the Kothi police station area in Barabanki district.
Preliminary information from police indicated that the victims were associated with a brick kiln in the Kothi area of Barabanki. Pitambar Rawat was working as a tractor driver at an RBF brick kiln owned by Deshraj in Achkakamau. The other three victims were involved in loading and unloading bricks at the same facility.
The accident highlights the risks faced by workers involved in transporting and handling construction materials, particularly when heavy tractor-trolleys are used on busy highways. Such vehicles are commonly used for transporting bricks and other materials between kilns, construction sites and local markets, but accidents involving them can result in severe consequences because of their heavy loads and limited safety features.
Following the crash, authorities removed the damaged tractor-trolley from the highway to clear the affected stretch of road. Traffic movement was subsequently restored to normal.
Family members of the victims also reached the accident site after receiving information about the tragedy. The bodies were sent for post-mortem examinations as part of the standard legal procedure.
Police have initiated further proceedings and are examining the circumstances surrounding the crash. The investigation is expected to establish how the tractor-trolley overturned and whether any factors related to the vehicle, its load, road conditions or driving contributed to the accident.
The incident has once again drawn attention to road safety concerns involving tractor-trolleys and heavy vehicles operating on major roads. While the immediate priority for authorities was to rescue those trapped and clear the highway, the ongoing investigation will determine the precise circumstances that led to the fatal overturning.