A devastating multi-vehicle collision on the Yamuna Expressway in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura district has resulted in a tragic loss of life and numerous injuries. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, involved a chain-reaction pile-up of 18 to 19 vehicles during dense fog.
Sequence of a Tragedy: Collision, Pile-Up, and Fire
The accident was reported around 3:40 am near milestone 127 under the jurisdiction of the Baldeo police station. According to initial sources, the chain of events began with a collision between a car and a bus. As these vehicles came to a halt on the road, others traveling from the Agra side towards Noida began crashing into them one after another. Visibility was near zero due to intense fog, preventing drivers from seeing the obstruction in time.
Soon after the series of collisions, a loud explosion rocked the site, leading to a massive fire that engulfed several vehicles. Witnesses at the scene suggested that a CNG tank on a private bus might have exploded, creating a huge ball of fire that quickly spread.
Casualties and Rescue Efforts
The catastrophic event led to 13 people being charred to death, with bodies burned beyond recognition. Only three of the deceased have been identified so far. They are Akhilendra Pratap Yadav (44) from Prayagraj, Rampal (75) from Maharajganj, and Sultan Ahmed (62) from Gonda district.
District Magistrate C P Singh stated that DNA sampling is underway to identify the remaining victims. More than 100 individuals suffered injuries in the accident. The injured have been admitted to multiple medical facilities for treatment, including the Joint Hospital in Vrindavan, Mathura district hospital, and SN Medical College in Agra.
Investigation and Passenger Accounts
Authorities have swiftly formed a committee to probe the causes of the accident. The committee includes the ADM city, SP rural, PWD engineers, an RTO official, a member of JP Infratech (the expressway's developer and operator), and a member of the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority. The panel has been directed to submit its report within 48 hours.
Survivor accounts paint a harrowing picture of the moments during the crash. Most passengers on the buses were asleep when the pile-up occurred. Prashant Singh, a passenger on a private bus traveling from Lucknow to Delhi, recounted, "I was in a deep slumber when I suddenly woke up hearing people shouting and trying to deboard." The incident involved eight passenger buses, along with several cars and SUVs, highlighting the scale of the tragedy on the busy expressway connecting Agra and Noida.
