A joyous wedding celebration turned into a nightmare on the Gonda-Ayodhya Highway when a car carrying a newly-married groom and his family met with a devastating head-on collision with a state-run bus. The accident, which occurred near Anbhula Mod in the Wazirganj police station area, resulted in three immediate fatalities and left three others, including the groom, fighting for their lives.
Severe Impact Leaves Car a Mangled Heap
The family was returning after the groom Nitin's wedding, which was held on 4 December, and was en route to the Ayodhya airport to catch a flight to Bengaluru. The collision with the Uttaranchal Roadways bus was so violent that the Maruti Suzuki Brezza was crushed into a tangle of metal. Akshat (35), the groom's brother-in-law; his cousin Ashu (34); and Akshat's mother, Neeta Agarwal (55), died on the spot.
According to police, Akshat was a resident of Kanpur and worked with Canara Bank. Ashu, who hailed from Agra, was employed with the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) in Noida. Their bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination.
Groom, Sister, and Child Battle Critical Injuries
The groom, Nitin, who had just gotten married, sustained serious injuries. Eyewitnesses noted that the mehendi on his hands was still fresh. His sister, Neha Gupta (28), and his three-year-old niece, Anaya, were also critically injured in the crash. Initial reports suggest that deployed airbags helped save some occupants, though they suffered multiple fractures and trauma.
All three injured were first rushed to the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Nawabganj. As their condition deteriorated, they were referred to higher medical facilities in Lucknow for advanced treatment.
Emotional Aftermath and Official Response
Heart-wrenching scenes unfolded at the hospital as grieving relatives broke down upon seeing the bodies. Nitin's father, Dilip Agarwal, expressed his devastation, stating, "My daughter, son-in-law, granddaughter, and other relatives were travelling to catch a flight. Everything is ruined." His aunt, Neetu Goyal, mentioned that the entire family had gathered for the wedding and Nitin was driving them to the airport when the tragedy struck.
Taking cognisance of the incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed profound grief. He instructed district officials to provide immediate relief to the affected family and ensure the best possible medical care for the injured. The CM directed authorities to expedite rescue efforts and conduct a thorough investigation.
Dr D.N. Singh, Chief Medical Superintendent of Gonda Medical College, confirmed that three individuals were brought dead. Two critically injured patients were stabilised before being referred to Lucknow as per the family's wishes. ASP (West) Radheshyam Rai provided details of the collision, noting that five people were in the car. "Three died, and two were seriously injured and later shifted to Lucknow. A small child miraculously escaped without injuries," he said. Police have initiated legal proceedings and cleared the accident site.
