12 pilgrims killed as jeep rams into bus

Twelve people were today killed when the jeep in which they were travelling rammed into a bus that was carrying foreign tourists, police said here.
According to police, the Tata Max jeep was carrying 13 pilgrims who had gone to the Prabhunath temple in Nepal.
The tragedy occurred this morning as their vehicle collided head-on with the tourist bus near Sudama Bhatta, police said, adding that the foreign tourists are safe and have been sent to their hotels.
Ten persons died on the spot while two others succumbed to injuries at BPS Memorial hospital in Balrampur following the mishap, which occurred at 12km away from the Balrampur district headquarters.

An injured person, identified as one Rajesh, is receiving treatment, they said.
Among the deceased are Sathosh (18), Pradeep and Pappu (both 22), Pramod (25), Durgesh (26), Vijay, Nanko, Chandrika and the driver of the vehicle, Chotkau (all 28), Angnoo (40), Surendra Kumar and an unidentified person. All were residents of Srawasthi district.
Meanwhile, SP Umesh Chadra, DM Preeti Shukla, and senior police officials visited the spot while the state government has announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of the victims.