Ayodhya seer dies in road accident

KANPUR/AYODHYA: Chief mahant of prestigious Phatik Shila Temple of Ayodhya mahant Ram Aagya Das (70) died in a road accident in Saurikh area of Kannauj on Friday morning.
Das, who was also the chief mahant of Sitaram Mandir in Vrindavan, was travelling to Ayodhya from Vrindavan via Kannauj when his SUV collided with a road divider on Agra-Lucknow Expressway.
Nemi Chand, an associate of the mahant, who was driving the vehicle also sustained grievous injuries.
Das and his driver were rushed to KGMU Trauma Centre in Lucknow where Das was declared brought dead on arrival while the condition of the driver was stated to be critical, police said.
Sukh Dev Das, priest of Phatik Shila Temple, said: "Mahant Ram Aagya Das had opposed the acquisition of land for the installation of Lord Ram's statue. He formally registered his opposition with chief minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow last month. He had asked the CM if the government would demolish an existing temple to install the Ram statue.