A severe fog cover over the National Capital Region (NCR) on Monday morning created near-zero visibility conditions, leading to a tragic series of highway accidents that claimed six lives and left multiple people injured. The hazardous weather triggered chain-reaction collisions on major expressways within a few hours, catching drivers off guard and severely disrupting traffic movement.
Major Pileups on Delhi-Mumbai Expressway
The first and most severe accident took place near Raniyala Patakpur village on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Nuh district. At least 20 vehicles, including two trucks, were involved in a devastating chain collision. Among the deceased was CISF inspector Harish Kumar (38) from Rajasthan’s Alwar district, whose vehicle crashed into another. Khalil (45) of Jaipur also lost his life after his car was caught in the pile-up. Five other individuals sustained injuries and were rushed to Mandi Kheda hospital, where police reported their condition as stable.
Police officials attributed the crash directly to the dense fog. A police officer stated that multiple vehicles failed to see the ones ahead in time due to the extremely low visibility, resulting in the collisions. Emergency response teams and highway authorities acted swiftly, using cranes to clear the wreckage and restore traffic flow without causing prolonged congestion.
Two other fog-related incidents were reported on the same expressway. Near Banarsi village, seven to eight vehicles were involved in a collision, though no injuries were reported. Separately, on the Delhi-Alwar Road near Ghaseda village, a Haryana Roadways bus collided with a tractor, causing significant damage to both vehicles but no casualties.
Fatalities and Chaos Extend to Faridabad and Gurgaon
The dangerous driving conditions extended beyond Nuh. In Faridabad, on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway near Kail village, a Ford Endeavour SUV crashed into a stationary truck. Sandeep (32) and Vishal (24), both from Jaipur, died on the spot. Vishal’s driver, Harsh, who suffered grievous eye injuries, later succumbed during treatment. Police indicated the truck was parked after exiting the expressway; the impact was so severe it completely crushed one side of the SUV. A case has been registered against the truck driver under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Gurgaon city also witnessed a spate of minor accidents due to the fog. A car collided with another vehicle on Southern Peripheral Road around 7 am, while a similar crash occurred on Golf Course Extension Road involving a car and a cab. On the KMP Expressway, a truck hit a stationary heavy vehicle. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in these Gurgaon incidents.
Eastern Peripheral Expressway Sees Multiple Pileups
On the other side of NCR, in Noida, dense fog led to two major pileups on the Eastern Peripheral Expressway. At least 20 vehicles were involved in collisions occurring merely 500 metres apart near Attai village in the Ecotech 1 area. These accidents resulted in the death of a 24-year-old truck driver and injuries to 13 others.
Arvind Verma, the in-charge of Ecotech-1 police station, confirmed that the dense fog was the primary cause. He noted that most of the injured were provided first aid at the hospital and subsequently sent home. The incidents underscore the severe risks posed by low visibility during the winter fog season in northern India, highlighting the need for heightened caution and adherence to safety advisories while driving.
