The tragic multi-vehicle collision on the Yamuna Expressway in Mathura has turned more grim, with officials confirming on Wednesday that the death toll has climbed to 18. The horrific accident, which occurred on Tuesday, left most of the victims' bodies charred beyond recognition, creating a harrowing challenge for authorities. So far, only five of the deceased have been formally identified.
Administration's Response and Identification Efforts
Agra Divisional Commissioner Shailendra Singh stated that the administration is focused on identifying all the victims. DNA samples from 11 people have been collected to aid in this painstaking process. He assured that the injured, admitted to hospitals in Agra and Mathura, are receiving the best possible medical care.
The five identified victims are Akhilendra Pratap Yadav (44) from Prayagraj, Rampal (75) from West Delhi, Ram Gopal (75) from Maharajganj, Sultan Ahmed (62) of Gonda, and Mohammed Shameem (50) from Kanpur Dehat. Shameem was driving one of the buses that caught fire in the catastrophic pile-up. District administration sources revealed that, as of now, only Akhilendra Pratap Yadav's body has been handed over to his family and his last rites performed.
Families in Anguish Await News
Outside the Mathura post-mortem house, a scene of profound grief and anxiety unfolded as families arrived searching for their loved ones. More than 20 people gathered by Wednesday, only to be told that visual identification was impossible due to the severe burns, leaving DNA testing as the sole option.
Raja Hussain, brother of bus driver Mohammed Shameem, shared his ordeal. He confirmed his brother was driving the Shatabdi Express bus from Kanpur to Delhi and that the family has submitted DNA samples. "He was the sole breadwinner, survived by his wife and three children. We are just waiting for the body," Hussain said.
Sunil Kumar is searching for his brother Devendra (28), a labour assistant who boarded a sleeper bus from Hamirpur to Noida. "His phone is off since Monday night. His wife and child are waiting. My father has given his DNA sample," Sunil stated. Similarly, Jagdish Pal from Sambhal submitted his DNA in hopes of finding his son Pankaj Kumar (30), a bus driver en route from Gorakhpur to Delhi.
Rajkumar from Fatehpur is looking for his 35-year-old brother Narendra, a sweet shop worker on a Kanpur-Delhi double-decker bus. Among the heart-wrenching stories is that of Parvati Devi (42), who saved her two children by breaking a window and pushing them to safety but could not escape herself as glass shards pierced her neck. Her eldest son, Akash Kumar, has provided a DNA sample for her identification.
Probe into Accident Causes Begins
Even as families waited in distress, a six-member investigative team began its work on the expressway to determine the causes of the accident. The committee, headed by Mathura ADM Amresh Kumar, includes the ADM city, SP rural, PWD engineers, an RTO official, and representatives from JP Infratech and the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA). Experts from the Institute of Road Traffic Education were also present at the site.
ADM Amresh Kumar indicated that the probe is analyzing all probable causes. "Locals pointed out that there is a curve on the road near the Yamuna, and fog had also set in at the time," he said. He added that the statements of the surviving drivers involved would be recorded before reaching any final conclusion.
