Nine persons were killed and atleast three were injured on Sunday after an overloaded tractor-trolley turned turtle and into a waterlogged pit in Bahraia village, 40 kms from Allahabad.
The victims were returning home after visiting the Gaazi Miyan shrine in nearby Sikandra.
According to reports, the driver was fiddling with his mobile phone when he lost control of the tractor, which overturned into the pit.
The driver is absconding, police said.
Locals rushed to the spot and began rescue work. Around 25 persons were onboard the tractor, which was travelling at a high speed, causing the accident, official sources said.
Divisional Commissioner on Monday said the casualties could have been less had it not rained so heavily. District authorities announced that Rs 2 lakh each would be given to the families of the victims.
Heavy rainfall over the past 3-4 days has caused disruption of traffic and severe flooding in many areas of the district.
A few hundred people were rendered homeless or forced to take shelter on higher ground in outlying areas here after water seeped into their homes.
Residents of Meerapatti in Mundera Mandi,10 kms from here, continued to be ferried to safety on Monday, after the area was severely flooded over the weekend.
The Allahabad municipality is supplying food and other essential items on boats to the residents, who have been stranded inside their homes for over two days now.
In Allahabad city, people had to wade through ankle-deep water, while water entered the ground floors of many homes and buildings, including a police station.
The water levels at the Ganga and Yamuna rivers also witnessed a minor rise over the weekend and is expected to rise further, a flood official said.
The area received 152.8 mm of rainfall on Friday, according to the weather department.
