Six people were killed and as many grievously injured after the driver of an electric bus lost control and rammed it into several vehicles in Rail Bazar area here, police said on Monday.
According to eye-witnesses, the driver of the bus moved it onto the wrong side of the road after which the bus rammed into auto-rickshaws, motorcycles, cars and a traffic booth between Ghantaghar and Tat Mill Crossing on Sunday night.
It then hit a truck and broke down, they said.
The driver of the bus has been arrested, police said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Pramod Kumar confirmed the casualties in the accident.
Of the six injured, four people were admitted to Krishna Hospital while the other two were admitted to Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital, he said.
The officer said several cars and motorcycles were damaged and that the driver of the bus was being interrogated.
An FIR has been registered at the Rail Bazar police station and a detailed probe is underway, the police said.
The driver of the bus is on the run, we are looking for him, said Pramod Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police, East Kanpur.The injured are being treated at a nearby hospital.
President Ram Nath Kovind, PM Narendra Singh Modi, Yogi Adityanath, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra condoled the deaths
President Ram Nath Kovind expressed condolences to the families of those who were killed in the accident.
"Deeply saddened by the news of many casualties in the Kanpur bus accident. My deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in this incident. I wish the injured people a speedy recovery," President Kovind posted on his official Twitter handle.
"Very sad to know about the road accident in Babu Purwa area of Kanpur. My deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives in this. Along with this, I wish a speedy recovery to all those injured in this accident," PM Modi tweeted in Hindi today.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences to the victims' families. He also prayed for the departed souls to rest in peace and said that he has instructed the officials to offer medical aid to the injured.
He wrote, "The death of people in a road accident in Kanpur is very sad. May Almighty grant the departed souls a place at his feet and strength to the bereaved family members to bear this unfathomable loss. Instructions have been given to the administration to provide all possible medical aid to the injured."
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also took to Twitter to express condolences to the families of the dead in the road accident.
"Received unfortunate news of a road accident in Kanpur. My deepest condolences to the families of the dead. I pray to God for the speedy recovery of the injured in the accident," Ms Priyanka tweeted in Hindi.