A deadly chain of collisions involving 20 vehicles on the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE) near Ecotech 1 in Noida claimed the life of a young truck driver and left 13 others injured on Monday morning. The accidents, blamed on dense fog and near-zero visibility, unfolded within a span of 500 metres, marking the second such pile-up on this expressway in just three days.
Chaos in the Fog: How the Accidents Unfolded
According to the Noida Police, the first crash occurred around 10 am near Attai village. A pickup van, likely unable to see clearly, rammed into the back of a slow-moving truck. This initial impact set off a devastating chain reaction, with several cars and another truck piling up behind. The force of the collisions was so severe that potatoes being transported in one of the trucks spilled all over the road, adding to the chaos and confusion at the scene.
The driver of the truck that was initially hit, identified as 24-year-old Shah Alam from Simbhavali in Hapur district, sustained serious injuries. He was rushed to a hospital but succumbed during treatment. Fearing further collisions, passengers from the involved vehicles quickly exited and moved to the sides of the expressway for safety.
Simultaneous Pile-Up and Rescue Efforts
Almost at the same time, just 500 metres away, a second multi-vehicle pile-up occurred. This incident involved 12 vehicles travelling in the opposite direction, from Meerut towards Haryana. The twin accidents caused massive traffic snarls on both sides of the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, with damaged vehicles strewn across the road.
Emergency services, including expressway staff and Dankaur police, responded promptly. They carried out coordinated rescue operations and transported the injured to the Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) hospital by ambulance.
Aftermath and Injuries: A Pan-India List of Victims
A statement from GIMS hospital confirmed that 14 patients were brought to the emergency ward following the twin accidents. Apart from Shah Alam, who died, four patients required admission. Three were under orthopaedic care and one under emergency medicine.
Four other individuals with minor injuries were discharged after treatment. Five more were examined and sent home with their attendants. The injured hailed from various cities across North India, highlighting the expressway's regional connectivity.
The list of injured includes:
- Pritam Adhar (50)
- Laxmikant (25)
- Vakalat (22)
- Ramesh Chandra (72)
- Manoj Sharma (38)
- Deepak (35)
- Arshad (32)
- Kajal (15)
- Pratham (27)
- Karan (18)
- Yadram (30)
- Suraj (45)
- Mehndi (30)
They are residents of Agra, Rae Bareli, Buxar, Alwar, Meerut, Jaipur, and Ghaziabad.
Police Urge Caution as Fog Season Intensifies
The collisions have put a renewed spotlight on road safety during North India's intense winter fog. Arvind Verma, in-charge of the Ecotech-1 police station, issued a stern warning to motorists. He urged drivers to reduce speed and maintain a safe distance between vehicles during foggy conditions to prevent such tragedies.
This incident serves as a grim reminder of the hazards posed by low visibility. With this being the second multi-vehicle pile-up on the EPE in three days—though the previous one did not cause injuries—authorities are likely to review safety protocols for the high-speed corridor during the winter months.
