Drunk Driver Blamed for Fatal Bus Crash on Lucknow Expressway, 5 Dead
A tragic accident on the Purvanchal Expressway near Lucknow resulted in the deaths of at least five passengers and left 41 others injured when a sleeper bus overturned on Monday evening. The incident, which occurred in the Gosaiganj area, sparked panic and prompted a large-scale rescue operation involving multiple agencies.
Police Investigation Points to Driver Negligence
Based on a preliminary probe, police have claimed that the bus driver consumed alcohol at a roadside eatery before the crash. Authorities suspect that a brief lapse in concentration, possibly due to microsleep, led to the driver losing control of the vehicle. Liquor bottles were seized from the accident site as evidence.
The bus was traveling from Ludhiana in Punjab to Darbhanga in Bihar when it flipped at high speed around 3 pm. Eyewitnesses reported that the vehicle swayed violently before colliding with a divider and overturning, causing chaos and distress among passengers.
Casualties and Medical Response
Among the deceased were two children and a teenager, highlighting the devastating impact of the crash. The identified victims include Birendra, 30, from Sitamarhi, Bihar; Anjali, 8; and Priyanshu, 15. Two others—a six-year-old boy and a 30-year-old man—remain unidentified.
Medical teams responded swiftly, with 28 injured passengers, including seven children, referred to the Apex Trauma Centre at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences in Lucknow. Others received treatment at Lokbandhu Hospital, Gosaiganj Community Health Centre, and KGMU Trauma Centre. At KGMU, 15 injured were admitted, with one woman in critical condition due to a head injury, while 14 others were reported stable.
Disturbing Scene and Rescue Efforts
A disturbing video from the scene captured the grim aftermath, showing bodies toppling out of bus windows as a crane lifted the vehicle upright. Several passengers were seen trapped or hanging from broken windows, crying for help as rescue workers struggled to free them.
District Magistrate Vishakh G Iyer confirmed the death toll, while Police Commissioner Amrendra Singh Sengar informed the media that the driver, Som Pal, has been taken into custody. An FIR is being registered as part of the ongoing investigation.
Potential Regulatory Violations
Transport department officials suspect possible violations in the bus's internal structure. A preliminary inspection indicates that the emergency exit may have been blocked, and the number of seats had been increased beyond permissible limits. Some passengers claimed over 50 people were on board, far exceeding the vehicle's capacity, with most being migrant workers returning home ahead of Holi.
The bus, registered in Panipat district, Haryana, in 2019, had valid fitness and insurance documents. However, officials noted prior challans against it, prompting a detailed mechanical and regulatory probe to uncover any lapses in safety standards.
Traffic Disruption and Aftermath
Following the accident, traffic was briefly disrupted on the Purvanchal Expressway, but authorities quickly cleared the road and restored normal traffic flow. The incident has raised concerns about road safety and enforcement of regulations, especially during peak travel seasons.
As investigations continue, questions linger about the adequacy of checks on commercial vehicles and the role of driver accountability in preventing such tragedies. The community mourns the loss of lives and hopes for stricter measures to ensure safer travel on India's highways.
