At least six people were killed and several others injured after a passenger bus travelling from Delhi to Bihar overturned on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao district early Tuesday, prompting Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to direct officials to speed up rescue efforts and provide compensation to the affected families.
The accident came amid another fatal road tragedy in Barabanki, where four people lost their lives in a separate crash, taking the death toll in the two incidents to 10. The back-to-back accidents have once again raised concerns over highway safety and driver fatigue on major expressways in the state.
According to officials, the Unnao accident took place around 5.30 am near kilometre marker 262 under the Auras Police Station area when the bus reportedly lost control and rammed into a divider before overturning.
Auras Community Health Centre in-charge Dr Anoop Tiwari said the hospital administration swung into action immediately after receiving information from the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA).
“At 5.30 AM, a call was received from UPDA informing that a bus on the Agra Expressway had collided with a divider. Immediate action was taken by activating the management team. Casualties started arriving within 5 to 7 minutes, and they were managed by the team. Severely injured patients were referred to the medical college, while the deceased, after police documentation, were sent to the Medical District Hospital in Unnao. A total of 6 individuals arrived deceased,” he said.
Police said there were more than 30 passengers on board the bus at the time of the accident. Five passengers died at the spot, while another succumbed during treatment after being taken to hospital.
Among the deceased was sub-inspector Ramchandra, who was returning to Bihar with prisoner Chhatrapal after travelling to Delhi, officials said.
Driver fatigue suspected in Unnao expressway crash
Preliminary investigation indicates that the driver may have fallen asleep while driving, causing the vehicle to lose balance and overturn on the expressway. Several passengers were thrown off the road and sustained serious injuries.
Critically injured passengers were referred to the Lucknow Trauma Centre for advanced treatment.
Reacting to the incident, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the loss of lives.
“The loss of lives in the tragic road accident that occurred on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway in Unnao district is extremely heartbreaking and soul-wrenching. My condolences are with the bereaved families immersed in grief,” the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister also directed district officials to ensure proper medical care for the injured and extend all possible assistance to the affected families.
Four killed in separate Barabanki accident
In another accident reported from Barabanki district, four people, including three children, died after a speeding truck trailer allegedly ran over family members sleeping outside their house.
Police said the incident occurred around 1 a.m. when the trailer coming from the Mahmoodabad side went out of control and crushed the victims before hitting a roadside tree.
The deceased were identified as 35-year-old Neeraj, 13-year-old Anurag, 10-year-old Anshika and six-year-old Anshu. Neeraj’s wife Aarti suffered serious injuries and was later referred to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Lucknow.
Villagers alleged that the trailer driver had handed over the steering wheel to a helper while he was asleep inside the vehicle. Residents also said the family had been sleeping outdoors because of power cuts and intense heat.
Police and rescue teams reached both accident sites shortly after receiving information and shifted the injured to nearby hospitals.