3 dead in Prayagraj bus accident, driver on the run

PPRAYAGRAJ: Three persons, including an elderly couple died after a bus moving in the opposite carriageway lost control, came over the divider collided head-on with a car in Prayagraj’s Ganga Nagar area on Friday afternoon, police said.Deputy Commissioner of Police (Ganga Nagar) Kuldeep Gunawat said the accident occurred on GT Road, near a petrol pump in Bheski village under Handia police station area.According to police, Rakesh Tripathi (60), a resident of Jaunpur district, was travelling from Bhadohi towards Jhusi in Prayagraj along with his wife Prabhavati Devi (58), son Rahul Tripathi and Shubham Dubey (27), a resident of Bhadohi.The DCP said that the bus travelling on the opposite side lost control near a road cut close to the Bheski petrol pump, veering off the lane before hitting the divider and coming onto the opposite carriageway.The speeding bus then rammed the oncoming car head-on, police said.Rakesh Tripathi, Prabhavati Devi, and Shubham Dubey suffered severe injuries in the accident and were declared dead after being rushed to a community health centre in Saidabad via ambulance.DCP said the bodies have been sent for post-mortem, while Rahul Tripathi, the fourth occupant of the car, is undergoing treatmentThe bus driver fled the scene after the incident, and efforts are underway to trace him, officials added.Taking cognisance of the incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief and extended his condolences to the bereaved families.The chief minister has directed officials to contact the families of the deceased and ensure every possible assistance.(With PTI inputs)