A devastating head-on collision between a passenger bus and a speeding truck in Uttar Pradesh's Basti district has resulted in four fatalities and left more than ten people injured. The tragic accident occurred in the late hours of Tuesday, casting a pall of grief over the region.
The Collision and Immediate Aftermath
The incident took place near Hardiya village on the Lumbini–Duddhi road, within the limits of the Kotwali police station. Around 11 pm, a bus carrying approximately 60 passengers was on its way from Sant Kabir Nagar to Ajmer Sharif for the Urs pilgrimage. It was violently struck head-on by a speeding truck. The force of the impact was catastrophic, completely mangling the front sections of both heavy vehicles.
The crash threw several passengers onto the road and trapped many others inside the twisted wreckage. Eyewitness Pawan Chaudhary described the scene as horrifying, with the cabins of both vehicles crushed beyond recognition. The truck driver was pinned in his seat and, despite struggling for nearly twenty minutes, succumbed to his injuries.
Rescue Operations and Official Response
Alerted by the loud crash, local residents were the first to rush to the spot, initiating rescue efforts even before authorities arrived. They worked to pull out the injured from the debris. The police were quickly informed, and senior officials including DIG Sanjeev Tyagi and District Magistrate Kritika Jyotsna reached the accident site to oversee operations.
The injured were swiftly transported to the district hospital. The influx of casualties created panic-like conditions, prompting the administration to call in additional doctors and paramedical staff from their homes. Hospital SIC Khalid Rizwan confirmed four deaths and stated that treatment was underway for 11 injured individuals. Given the severity of their condition, two critical patients were referred to Gorakhpur Medical College for advanced care.
Victims and Ongoing Investigation
The deceased have been identified as Abdullah (60) and Mukhtar Ali (75) of Basti, Sandeep Pandey (32), the bus driver, and Shivraj Singh, the truck driver. The list of injured includes Jainab Khatoon, Asuran Nisha, Sehrun Nisha, and Najma Khatoon of Sant Kabir Nagar; Shayara Bano (70) of Amroha; Sajrun Nisha, Jawwar Ali (80), Mohammad Naseem, and Akhtar Ali (60) of Basti; and Chhedan Ali (70) of Gorakhpur.
DIG Sanjeev Tyagi has stated that an investigation into the precise cause of the accident is currently underway. Following the removal of the damaged vehicles from the road, traffic movement, which was severely disrupted, has been restored. Passengers who sustained minor injuries were provided first aid and subsequently discharged from medical care.
