2 cousins killed as timber-laden truck hits bike

Pilibhit: Two cousins were killed after their motorcycle was hit and dragged for almost 20 metres by a timber-laden truck on Bhind–Lipulekh NH 731 near a petrol pump close to Narayanpur village in Barkhera area around 9 pm on Saturday.Police said the accident occurred when Vikas Shrivastav (19), son of local BJP office-bearer Hari Shankar Shrivastav, and Shivam Shrivastav (24) were riding to their native village, Narayanpur. Hearing the loud impact of the collision, petrol pump staff and passing motorists rushed to the spot. The truck driver allegedly tried to flee but was caught by locals and later handed over to the police.Police sent both victims to the Barkhera block headquarters-based community health centre, where doctors declared them dead on arrival.Barkhera SHO Pramendra Kumar said the truck was travelling from Bisalpur to Udham Singh Nagar district in Uttarakhand to deliver timber when the accident took place. "The truck has been seized and the driver taken into custody. An FIR has been registered against the driver under BNS sections 106 (causing death by negligence) and 281 (rash driving on a public way), among other provisions," he said.Family members said both victims were engaged in agricultural work and also ran a shoe business at Takri, a commercial hub along the national highway near their village.