Hathras (PTI): Two more children succumbed to their injuries following the Hathras bus accident, bringing the death toll to 17, officials said on Saturday. Appi (2) and Gulshan, who were undergoing treatment at a hospital in Aligarh, passed away, according to authorities.

District Magistrate of Hathras, Ashish Kumar, stated that 16 people—11 in Hathras and 5 in Aligarh—are still receiving medical treatment.

The accident occurred on Friday, when at least 15 people, including four women and as many children, traveling in a van, were killed after a roadways bus hit the vehicle from behind on National Highway 93 in Hathras district, Uttar Pradesh.

“The bus collided with the van while attempting to overtake it on the Agra-Aligarh national highway,” Superintendent of Police (SP) Nipun Agarwal confirmed.

The crash took place near Kanwarpur village, about 10 kilometers from Hathras district headquarters. The passengers were en route to Agra from Hathras at the time of the accident.

The deceased have been identified as Irshad (25), Munne Khan (55), Muskan (16), Talli (28), Tabassum (28), Najma (25), Bhola (25), Khushbu (25), Jameel (50), Chote (25), Ayan (2), Sufiyan (1), Alfaz (6), Shoaib (5), and Ishrat (50).

Salam Mohammad, a relative of some of the victims, mentioned that his family members were returning to Agra after attending a 'chaalisvaa' (mourning ritual) in the Sasni area of Hathras district when the accident occurred.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath instructed district officials to take immediate relief measures and announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those seriously injured.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured.

With inputs from PTI