18 people, including three women and two children, were killed and 26 injured when two buses fell into a ditch after a head-on collision near a bridge in Chiluataal area here on Sunday.
Police said the accident took place in the afternoon when a Sonauli-bound state roadways bus collided with a private bus near the approach road of Maniram Bridge, about 20 kms from the city.
SSP, Gorakhpur, Ashutosh Kumar said 18 persons —13 men, 3 women and two children — died in the accident
Earlier, police sources had put the death toll at 20.
Divisional Commissioner Ravindra Naik has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident.
Expressing grief at the loss of lives, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav announced an ex—gratia of Rs one lakh to the kin of each of the deceased and Rs 25,000 to the seriously injured while Rs 10 thousand would be given to those with minor injuries.
Besides, he also directed the Transport department to pay Rs 50,000 to the kin of the deceased and Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 to those with serious and minor injuries.
Senior officials inspected the accident site and visited BRD Medical College Hospital where many of the injured were state to be in critical condition.
