A private tourist bus overturned on the National Highway-9 in Ghaziabad early Thursday morning, leaving twelve passengers injured. The incident occurred near Hi-Tech College in the Wave City area.
Details of the Ghaziabad Bus Overturn
The bus, operated by the private tourism company Blueworld, was on its way from Haldwani to Delhi's Anand Vihar Inter-State Bus Terminal. It was carrying 24 passengers at the time. According to police, the driver allegedly fell asleep at the wheel, causing the vehicle to hit a road divider and topple over at 4:57 am.
After the crash, commuters alerted the emergency helpline 112, prompting a police team to rush to the spot. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Wave City, Priyadarshi Pal, confirmed the sequence of events and the ownership of the vehicle.
Rescue and Aftermath of the NH-9 Crash
All the injured individuals were promptly transported to Sanjay Nagar Hospital via ambulance. Fortunately, no one suffered serious injuries, and most of the passengers were released after receiving minor medical treatment.
The overturned bus blocked the carriageway, disrupting traffic flow. Authorities had to call in a hydraulic crane to remove the heavy vehicle from the highway and restore normal movement.
Alarming Road Safety Data for Ghaziabad
This accident highlights a persistent and deadly problem on the city's roads. Recent data paints a grim picture of road safety in the region.
According to the traffic department, a staggering 90% of road accident fatalities in Ghaziabad over the past three years were linked to careless driving and speeding.
Furthermore, a joint survey conducted by the traffic police and the NGO Save Life Foundation revealed shocking statistics from a 15-month period between January 2022 and March 2023:
- There were 1,163 crashes in the city.
- These crashes resulted in 1,219 deaths and 376 injuries.
- Careless driving was the biggest killer, accounting for 757 deaths (nearly 62%).
- Speeding caused 317 fatalities (26%).
The survey also broke down other contributing factors:
- Driver inattention: 43 deaths
- Wrong-side driving: 33 deaths
- Sudden braking: 18 deaths
- Misjudging path or speed of other vehicles: 13 deaths
- Illegal parking: 10 deaths
The Ghaziabad bus accident serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of driver fatigue and negligence. It underscores the urgent need for stricter enforcement of traffic rules, better driver training, and public awareness campaigns to curb the alarming rate of fatalities on the city's roads.
