A 55‑tonne truck hit a tractor‑trolley carrying devotees returning from immersing a Durga idol in the Sarayu River, killing two and injuring nine, Tarabganj Circle Officer U P Singh told reporters on Tuesday night. The crash occurred on the Gonda‑Ayodhya highway near Raja Sagra, within the Wazirganj police jurisdiction, with the vehicle coming from the opposite direction. The devotees were residents of Govindpara village, falling under Motiganj police limits, and had just completed the immersion ritual before heading home. Sanjay, 20, and Ashish, 19, both daily‑wage labourers, were pronounced dead on arrival at the district medical college, where doctors confirmed their fatalities after preliminary treatment. The nine injured were taken to the same facility; doctors reported their conditions as stable and out of danger. Families of the deceased, who relied on their wages to support their households, expressed shock and sorrow at the sudden loss. Wazirganj police have launched a formal investigation, and forensic teams are collecting evidence at the collision site to determine the exact cause of the crash. The investigation will also examine the truck’s compliance with road safety regulations and whether any traffic violations contributed to the incident. Authorities say the findings will be presented to higher officials for further action.