A devastating three-vehicle collision on the Agra-Kanpur Highway near the Pakka Bagh Railway Overbridge in Etawah claimed two lives and left two others injured early Friday morning. The incident occurred around 4 am in the Friends Colony police station area, causing widespread panic and disrupting traffic for several hours.
Sequence of Events
According to police reports, a bus first rear-ended a dumper that was traveling from Agra to Kanpur. The bus became stuck against the dumper and came to a halt. Smoke began emanating from the bus, prompting passengers to evacuate. Moments later, a double-decker Shatabdi bus approaching from behind slammed into the stationary bus with tremendous force, also striking passengers who were standing on the road.
Casualties and Injuries
The victims were identified as Sohanlal Gautam, 40, a resident of Kanpur, who died at the scene, and Vivek Mishra, 45, from Noida, who succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment at the District Hospital in Etawah. Two other individuals sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical care.
Alcohol Allegations and Investigation
Eyewitnesses and passengers have alleged that the driver of the Shatabdi bus was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. Police have confirmed that an inquiry into these allegations has been initiated. Both buses have been taken into custody, and the exact cause of the accident is under investigation.
Rescue and Traffic Restoration
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Brijesh Kumar Shrivastava stated that relief and rescue operations began immediately after the crash. Damaged vehicles were removed from the scene, and traffic was eventually restored after several hours of disruption.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward as the investigation continues.
