According to police, two separate incidents occurred Friday night in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, leaving at least 31 dead and more than 30 injured. A tractor trolley carrying about 50 pilgrims collapsed and fell into a pond close to Ghatampur locality, causing the first accident. More than 20 pilgrims suffered serious injuries in the accident, and at least 26 pilgrims—mostly women and children—died. When the tragedy occurred, the tractor was travelling back from the Chandrika Devi shrine in Unnao.

According to officials, the injured were sent to a nearby hospital, and the station chief of Sarh police station was suspended for incompetence. The action was taken against the official for failing to send police officers to the accident scene quickly, said Indian news agency ANI. Five persons were killed and 10 others were hurt in the city's second traffic tragedy Friday night when a speeding truck collided with a loader truck close to the Ahirwan flyover. According to authorities, the injured have been taken to a hospital for care.

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An inquiry has been opened, according to joint commissioner of police Anand Prakash Tiwari, and efforts are being made to find the truck. The 26 pilgrims' deaths were lamented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who also promised to compensate each family that lost a member in the mishap with 2 lakh. He stated that each injured person would receive financial support of 50,000.

Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister, expressed his condolences for the loss of life and dispatched senior ministers Rakesh Sachan and Ajit Pal to the scene to supervise the relief and rescue efforts. He also urged people to refrain from using tractor-trolleys for transportation. He emphasised that a tractor-trolley should be employed for agricultural labour and for moving commodities.

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