The death toll in the early-morning multi-vehicle collision on the Delhi–Agra Expressway in Mathura rose to 13 on Tuesday, hours after dense fog led to a chain crash involving buses and cars, officials said.
The accident occurred in the early hours when eight buses and three cars collided amid extremely poor visibility. Several vehicles caught fire soon after impact, causing panic among passengers and complicating rescue efforts.
Authorities said most of the victims died due to burns and injuries sustained in the pile-up.
#WATCH | Mathura, UP: Several buses catch fire on the Delhi-Agra Expressway, also referred to as the Delhi-Agra Expressway, in Mathura.
Visuals from the spot. pic.x.com/rceaakYsyM
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2025
Multiple buses gutted; dozens injured
Confirming the updated figures, Mathura District Magistrate Chandra Prakash Singh said eight buses, including a state-run bus, were completely charred in the accident. Two cars were also burnt.
“A total of 70 people were injured and admitted to different hospitals. Two of them have been referred to Agra Medical College for advanced treatment. After medical examinations, we received confirmation of 13 deaths at the mortuary,” Singh told reporters, as quoted by IANS.
Earlier in the day, police had confirmed four deaths and 25 injuries, before the toll rose as more victims succumbed during treatment.
Fog blamed for collision on busy stretch
Officials said dense fog was the main reason behind the accident, which took place during peak low-visibility hours on one of Uttar Pradesh’s busiest expressway corridors.
Vehicles approaching the stretch were unable to see stalled traffic ahead, leading to a cascading crash as one vehicle rammed into another. The situation worsened after a fire broke out in several buses, trapping passengers inside.
Fire services and emergency teams were rushed to the spot and worked for several hours to control the blaze and evacuate the injured.
PM Modi, CM Yogi announce compensation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives and announced ex gratia from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
“The loss of lives due to a mishap on the Yamuna Expressway in Mathura is extremely painful. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a post on X, adding that Rs 2 lakh would be given to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured, according to IANS.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also took cognisance of the incident, expressing condolences and announcing financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh for families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured, the Chief Minister’s Office said.
Back-to-back fog crashes raise safety concerns
The Mathura crash came a day after another fog-related pile-up on the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway, where around 20 vehicles were involved in a collision early Monday morning. That accident claimed four lives, including two police personnel, and left several others seriously injured.
Officials said both incidents underline the growing danger posed by winter fog on high-speed expressways and the need for stricter speed enforcement and early warning systems during low-visibility conditions.
Authorities have advised motorists to avoid early-morning travel, reduce speed, and maintain a safe distance as dense fog continues to blanket large parts of Uttar Pradesh.