UP: Tractor-trolleys Becoming “Deadly Machines”; Kasganj Disaster Is Just One Mishap Among Many

Tractor trolleys in Uttar Pradesh are quickly becoming “killing machines.” The catastrophe that occurred in Kasganj on February 24, which claimed the lives of 23 people, including women and children, is a stark illustration of the state transport department’s and the police’s lack of concern for seeing to it that laws banning the use of tractor-trolleys for commuting are carried out.

Over 70 people have died in the previous two years in Uttar Pradesh as a result of the unlawful usage of tractor-trolleys, and the number is rising.

“THEIR CRIES PASSED AWAY”
At least 54 pilgrims were on board the tractor-trolley in Kasganj when it crashed into a pond close to Gadhai hamlet. According to the police, the event happened at approximately ten in the morning as the pilgrims were traveling to the Ganga river to observe Magh Purnima by taking a holy plunge.

It was described by several observers as the most heartbreaking sight they had ever seen. It is difficult to put into words. Everything transpired in a matter of seconds. The tractor-trolley lost control and plunged straight into the pond before toppling over, followed by a tremendous boom. We raced to the scene in response to calls, but the trolley could not be raised, and the individuals trapped underneath eventually stopped talking. We watched as people perished in front of us, unable to intervene. The image will be in my memory forever,” local resident Ajay Gupta said.

ON HIS MUNDAN, I LOST MY SON
The bulk of the many fatalities came from the Kasganj district’s Banar, Kheriya, and Rorhi villages. “My wife Sapna, mother Pushpa Devi, grandma Shakuntala, and I were going to celebrate my son’s mundan on the banks of the Ganga. Anguished Gaurav Singh, who lost his wife, kid, mother, and grandmother in the tragedy, stated, “I had never imagined that this will turn out to be the last day of their lives.”

Examining incidents prior to Kasganj
There have been more incidents recorded across the state, not only the Kasganj event. A comparable and significant catastrophe occurred in the Kanpur district’s Ghatampur region in 2022. The 50-person van that was transporting them crashed into a pond close to Saad village, killing at least 26 people.

The following is a summary of recent tractor-trolley accidents in the UP:

February 2024: A tractor-trolley transporting 26 passengers crashed into a ditch close to Shuklapur village in the Hardoi district earlier this month, resulting in two fatalities and over 20 injuries.

August 2023: A tractor-trolley transporting 50 passengers toppled in the strong water of the Dhamola river in the Tajpura region, resulting in nine fatalities in the Saharanpur district.

In June 2023, a tractor-trolley transporting around 20 people for a marriage procession collapsed in a hole near Van Bishanpur village in Chandauli district, resulting in the deaths of three individuals.

In April 2023, a tractor-trolley accident occurred at Birsinghpur hamlet in Shahjahanpur district, killing twelve persons who were traveling to the Garra River.

ABOLITION OF THE 1988 MOTOR VEHICLES ACT
S Senior attorney Mohammed Lawyer of the Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow bench expressed worry about the matter and said that the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988 urgently needs to be amended.

The fact that tractors are still regarded as light motor vehicles (LMVs) and fall within the definition of LMV as stated in Section 2(21) of the act raises serious concerns. The definition of a “light motor vehicle” is defined as “a transport vehicle or an omnibus whose gross vehicle weight, or a motor car, tractor, or road roller whose unladen weight, does not exceed 7,500 kg.” Tractors, however, do not, by any means, belong in the LMV category, and as such, the license issued for one under this category is invalid. Tractor driving requires a higher skill level, thus a good and comprehensive exam is necessary, he added.

TRACTION-TROLLEYS DESIGNED SOLELY TO TRANSPORT AGRICULTURAL MATERIAL
Furthermore, tractor-trolleys are not designed to transport people, per the legislation. “An agricultural tractor is any mechanically propelled four-wheel vehicle intended to operate with appropriate implements for various field operations and/or trailers to transport agricultural materials,” according to the MV Act of 1988’s section 2(b). A farm tractor is not a vehicle meant for transportation, the attorney said.

“It further states that the term “agricultural trailer” refers to a trailer that is typically left uncovered, has a single or double axle, is connected to an agricultural tractor using two hooks, and is primarily used for transporting agricultural materials,” he said.

WHAT IS SAID IN THE 1998 UP MOTOR VEHICLE RULES?
“No trailer manufactured in India and intended to be used as a transport vehicle shall be registered unless its design is approved by the transport commissioner,” according to Section 172 of the Uttar Pradesh Motor Vehicle Rules, 1998.

This section covers the design and specs of locally made trailers. The transport commissioner may, by notice, publish in the official gazette standards, designs, specifications, and computations pertaining to all or any specific kind of trailer, according to subrule 4 of the same section.

UP TO 18.5 LAKH AGRICULTURAL TRACTORS: NO TRAILERS REGISTERED
According to representatives of the transport department, these trailers often do not have their regional transport office (RTO) registration completed. According to data, 10,400 commercial tractors and at least 580 trailers are registered in the state for commercial use.

It becomes much worse when it comes to agricultural tractors. Despite possessing 18.5 lakh agricultural tractors, the state does not have a single trailer licensed for use in agriculture.

Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister, has urged people not to ride in tractor-trolleys. He had instructed authorities to make sure that vehicles or tractor-trolleys were not employed for transportation after the 2022 catastrophe. Additionally, he had urged everyone to closely abide by safety regulations since it was dangerous to travel by truck and tractor-trolley. In addition, he had convened a high-level conference on road safety between the state transportation and housing agencies.

Not long after, state-wide superintendents of police received orders to work with district magistrates, gram pradhans, and panchayat secretaries to spread the word about the risks associated with riding in tractor-trolleys.

But since then, not much has been done.

Additional Transport Commissioner (Road Safety) Pushp Sen Satyarthi said, “We have launched a statewide drive to raise awareness on not using trailers for commuting purposes in order to avoid Kasganj like tragedies in the future.”

“The tractor-trolley caused the deaths of four of my family members.” I urge people to avoid using tractor-trolleys, which are the least expensive form of transportation in rural areas. In order to prevent similar tragedies, I sincerely ask the Uttar Pradesh government to provide a suitable form of transportation in the rural areas,” Gaurav Singh stated.