SUV kills 3 after hitting bonfire group in Gorakhpur

A speeding SUV lost control and struck a bonfire group in Gorakhpur, killing three and injuring five, sparking protests as locals set the vehicle ablaze

High-Speed SUV Crash in Gorakhpur Kills Three

A high-speed SUV crashed into a group of people gathered around a roadside bonfire at Rampur Crossing in Gorakhpur late Tuesday evening. The incident resulted in three deaths and five injuries. This reckless event occurred in the AIIMS police station area, turning a quiet winter night into chaos.

Details of the Incident

According to Madan Mohan Mishra, the station house officer (SHO) of AIIMS police station, the SUV ran over people sitting near a bonfire in front of Mohit’s house. The deceased have been identified as Bhagwan Das, 40, Prince, 15, and Sanjay Singh, 40, the driver of the SUV. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination.

Victims and Eyewitness Accounts

Police reported that the victims included Amar, 25, Jitendra, 40, Himanshu, 12, and Deepu. They were labourers who had gathered around the bonfire after dinner to stay warm. Eyewitnesses stated that the SUV was traveling at high speed when the driver lost control and crashed into the group. After hitting the people, the vehicle rammed into a roadside kiosk and overturned.

Casualties and Response

Circle officer (Cantonment) Yogendra Singh confirmed that Bhagwan Das died on the spot. Prince later died during treatment at AIIMS. The driver, Sanjay Singh, who was seriously injured when the vehicle overturned, also died at the hospital. “The vehicle was moving at a very high speed and appears to have gone out of control,” Singh said. He added that the bodies have been sent for post-mortem and further legal action is being taken.

Community Reaction

Following the deaths of Bhagwan Das and Prince, anger erupted in the Rampur area. As news of the fatalities spread, hundreds of locals gathered at the scene, vandalized the SUV, and set it ablaze, creating a tense situation. Police from the Cantt and Kotwali circles sent additional forces to control the situation and disperse the crowd.

Restoration of Order

Officials assured residents that strict action would be taken. The damaged vehicle was taken into custody, and after nearly an hour of efforts, normalcy was restored.