Gorakhpur, April 3 -- Three women lost their lives and 16 others were injured after a tractor-trolley carrying devotees overturned and plunged into a 30-feet-deep canal in Kushinagar district on Wednesday night, officials said.

The devotees were travelling from Mamkhor Barhara village under the jurisdiction of Ghughuli Police Station in Maharajganj district to Bhainsa Ghat on the Narayani river for a holy dip on the occasion of Chaitra Navami when the accident occurred near Khadda town around 8 pm .

According to officials, preliminary findings suggest that the hook connecting the tractor and trolley snapped, causing the vehicle to lose balance and fall into the Gandak Canal.

Circle officer Khadda, Ramveer Singh, confirmed that at least...