A thick blanket of fog on Tuesday morning led to a catastrophic chain-reaction accident on the crucial Lucknow-Varanasi National Highway, claiming the lives of two truck drivers and injuring at least sixteen others. The multi-vehicle pile-up brought traffic on this busy arterial route in Amethi district to a complete standstill for several hours.
Sequence of a Tragedy in Poor Visibility
The accident unfolded in the Musafirkhana area under conditions of extremely poor visibility. According to police preliminary findings, the chain of events began when a truck traveling towards Sultanpur lost control and smashed into a road divider. A second truck, which was following too closely in the dense fog, failed to stop in time and rammed into the first.
The situation turned more grim within minutes. A third truck then collided with the already damaged vehicles. This triggered a full-scale pile-up as a fourth truck, a UPSRTC Janrath bus carrying passengers, and a car also crashed into the growing wreckage on the highway.
Victims and Immediate Aftermath
The two drivers who lost their lives in the tragic crash have been identified. They are Manjeet Singh (25), a resident of Pilibhit, and Shamshad (24), from Amethi. Officials stated that both men became trapped in their vehicles and succumbed to their injuries on the spot before rescue could extricate them.
In a separate but deeply concerning detail, sixteen passengers aboard the UPSRTC Janrath bus sustained injuries of varying severity. They were promptly rushed to nearby medical facilities for treatment. The collision involved a total of six vehicles: four trucks, the state-run bus, and a car.
A Recurring Hazard and Calls for Caution
This incident highlights the severe and recurring danger that dense winter fog poses to road safety across North India, particularly on high-speed national highways. The Lucknow-Varanasi corridor is a vital link, witnessing heavy traffic of both commercial and passenger vehicles.
Authorities have reiterated standard advisories for drivers during the fog season, which includes reducing speed, using fog lights, maintaining a safe distance, and avoiding overtaking in low-visibility conditions. Such accidents often bring urgent calls for improved highway patrols and the use of advanced warning systems during hazardous weather to prevent similar tragedies.
