Heavy winter fog in Rajasthan led to two devastating road accidents on Monday, claiming three lives and leaving nine others injured in the districts of Dausa and Sikar. Police investigations point to severely reduced visibility as the primary cause behind both tragedies.
Head-On Collision on Reengus-Khatu Shyam Ji Road
The first and more fatal incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, around 2 am, on the Reengus-Khatu Shyam Ji Road in Sikar district. A head-on collision between a passenger car and a commercial passenger vehicle resulted in three deaths.
Assistant Sub-Inspector Sawantaram Gurjar of Reengus police station provided details, stating the car was carrying four youths travelling from Khatu Shyam Ji towards Reengus. It collided with the commercial vehicle coming from the opposite direction.
The deceased have been identified as Ajay Devanda, the driver of the commercial vehicle, and Gaurav and Ajay Sani. Both Gaurav and Ajay Sani were residents of Suratpura in Dausa district and were in the car. While two victims died on the spot, Ajay Saini later succumbed to his injuries at Jaipur's SMS Hospital. Two other individuals from the accident are currently undergoing treatment.
Bus Crashes into Stationary Vehicle in Dausa
The second accident took place later in the morning within the Mandawari police station area of Dausa district. On the Sawai Madhopur Road, a private passenger bus rammed into a wood-laden 'jugaad' vehicle that was parked on the roadside.
This collision left seven passengers on the bus injured, three of them seriously. The bus was en route from Sawai Madhopur to Lalsot with approximately 20 people on board.
A police officer explained the sequence of events, stating, "Due to heavy fog, the bus driver failed to notice the stationary vehicle near a curve at Kalyanpura, lost control, and crashed into it." All injured passengers were promptly rushed to the Lalsot government hospital for medical care.
Police Cite Fog as Common Culprit
Preliminary investigations by the police in both districts have converged on a single, dangerous factor: dense fog. The poor visibility conditions, typical for North Indian winters, severely impaired the drivers' ability to judge distance and see obstacles or oncoming traffic.
These back-to-back incidents highlight the critical need for extreme caution while driving during foggy weather. Authorities often advise:
- Driving at significantly reduced speeds.
- Using fog lights and dippers instead of high beams.
- Avoiding sudden braking and maintaining safe distance.
- Postponing non-essential travel until visibility improves.
The accidents have cast a pall over the regions, with local authorities continuing their probe into the exact circumstances while urging drivers to prioritize safety.
