A horrific collision on the Purvanchal Expressway in Uttar Pradesh's Sultanpur district on Monday morning resulted in three fatalities and left eight others injured. The accident, caused by severely reduced visibility due to dense fog, involved a speeding car crashing into a stationary truck.
Sequence of the Tragic Event
The incident occurred around 9:30 am near milestone 142.9 of the high-speed corridor. According to police reports, a truck transporting cattle towards Bihar was forced to halt on the expressway after it developed a major mechanical fault—its axle broke. The stranded truck became an invisible hazard moments later.
A car travelling from Lucknow to Azamgarh, navigating the thick blanket of fog, failed to see the stationary truck. It slammed into the heavy vehicle at high speed. The impact was so powerful that the front section of the car was completely crushed, trapping the occupants inside the mangled wreckage.
Casualties and Rescue Efforts
Tragically, two passengers died instantly at the scene. They were identified as Sikander Khan (27) and Shambhu Lal (55), both residents of Sarai Mir area in Azamgarh district. Another injured victim, Surendra Lal (28), was rushed to the Dostpur Community Health Centre but succumbed to his injuries, raising the death toll to three.
Of the remaining occupants, six injured persons are receiving treatment at the Dostpur CHC. Two critically injured victims have been referred to the district hospital in Ambedkar Nagar for advanced medical care.
Police teams from Jaysinghpur, along with officials from the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), swiftly reached the accident site. Rescue workers used iron rods to pry open the severely damaged vehicle and retrieve the bodies. The operation caused a brief disruption to traffic on the expressway, which was later restored.
Aftermath and Investigation
Circle Officer RK Chaturvedi confirmed that the bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination and the families of the deceased have been informed. Authorities have initiated a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to the fatal crash.
This accident highlights the recurring danger posed by dense winter fog on northern India's expressways, often leading to multi-vehicle pile-ups and loss of life despite warnings and advisories.
