Major Pile-Up on Agra-Lucknow Expressway Injures 13 Amid Dense Fog
A severe chain collision involving multiple vehicles unfolded on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway early Thursday morning, resulting in injuries to at least 13 individuals. The incident, attributed to dangerously low visibility caused by dense fog, occurred in the Behta Mujavar area near Jogikot village, approximately 7:30 AM.
Sequence of the Collision
The pile-up was initiated when a truck, driven by Leela from Hisar, Haryana, and transporting mustard oil to Bihar, collided with a dumper. The impact caused both heavy vehicles to come to a diagonal halt, completely obstructing one lane of the expressway.
This blockage triggered a cascading series of rear-end collisions:
- Four passenger cars immediately following crashed into the obstructed lane.
- A trailer carrying a tractor then collided with the accumulating wreckage.
- A sleeper bus carrying approximately 40 passengers from Delhi subsequently crashed into a stationary car and then into the trailer.
The front section of the bus sustained significant damage in the impact. The bus driver, Vivek from Etawah, became trapped in the driver's cabin but was successfully rescued by emergency responders. Passengers on the bus managed to escape by breaking the vehicle's windows.
Rescue and Aftermath
Upon receiving alerts, teams from the Uttar Pradesh Police and the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) swiftly arrived at the scene to conduct rescue operations.
The collision caused a massive traffic backlog, with vehicles stranded for nearly 4 kilometers along the crucial expressway. After concerted efforts lasting about one and a half hours, authorities managed to clear the damaged vehicles and restore the flow of traffic.
Medical Response and Injuries
Emergency medical services transported the injured to the Bangarmau Community Health Center for initial treatment. Among the injured were two brothers, Ritesh and Vikram Yadav from Begusarai, Bihar, who were traveling in one of the involved cars.
Following primary assessment and care, approximately 13 individuals with more serious injuries were referred to the district hospital for further medical attention. The total number of injured has been confirmed at 13.
This incident highlights the recurring hazards posed by dense winter fog on North India's high-speed expressways, often leading to multi-vehicle accidents during the early morning hours.
