Infant Survives As Young Couple Killed In Hit-and-Run In UP’s Hardoi

In a tragic hit-and-run incident in Hardoi on Tuesday morning, a young couple riding a motorcycle was killed after being struck by an unidentified vehicle, while their three-month-old infant was miraculously found alive beside their bodies.

The accident took place on a service lane of the Ganga Expressway near the Sedhamau underpass in the Pachdevra police station area. According to police, villagers heading to their fields discovered a damaged motorcycle, the bodies of a man and a woman, and an infant crying at the scene. They immediately alerted authorities.

The deceased were identified as Siyaram (22) and his wife Neelam (20), residents of Gahwara village under Pali police station limits. The couple had been returning home with their infant daughter after attending a wedding in neighbouring Shahjahanpur district. Police said both victims died on the spot due to the impact of the collision.

Circle Officer Shahabad Jai Narayan confirmed that the infant was unharmed and has been handed over to family members. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination, and a manhunt has been launched to trace the absconding driver responsible for the incident.

The case has once again drawn attention to the persistent issue of hit-and-run accidents in the country, despite stricter road safety regulations introduced under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019. The legislation provides for enhanced penalties for dangerous driving and aims to improve accountability on the roads.

Further, provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita seek to impose stricter punishment on negligent drivers and mandate reporting of accidents. However, incidents such as the one in Hardoi underline the continuing challenges in enforcement and compliance.

Police said efforts are underway to identify the accused and bring them to justice.