A devastating multi-vehicle collision on the Yamuna Expressway in Mathura has left a trail of death and despair, with a mother's final act of bravery emerging as a poignant story from the tragedy. At least 13 people were charred to death and over 90 injured after a chain-reaction crash involving 19 vehicles in the early hours of Tuesday.
A Mother's Ultimate Sacrifice Amid Flames
Trapped inside one of the buses that caught fire, 42-year-old Parvati Devi faced an impossible choice as flames engulfed the vehicle. With only seconds to act, she managed to break a window and push her two children—Prachi (8) and Shani (12)—to safety, securing their escape. However, she could not save herself.
"Shards of broken glass got lodged in her neck," recounted her eldest son, Akash Kumar. That was the last time the children saw their mother before the bus was completely consumed by the inferno. Officials suspect Parvati may have succumbed to her injuries, though her body is yet to be traced from the crash site near milestone 127 in Baldeo.
Chaos in the Fog: The Sequence of the Accident
The catastrophic accident occurred around 3.40 am on Tuesday, triggered primarily by poor visibility caused by dense fog. The pile-up led to fires in at least 10 vehicles, turning the expressway into a blazing trap. The intensity of the fires has made identification of the deceased extremely challenging, as most bodies have been burned beyond recognition.
Authorities, including SP (rural) Suresh Chand Rawat, have stated that DNA analysis will be required to formally identify the victims, including Parvati Devi. She was travelling from her hometown in Hamirpur district to Noida to meet her husband, Govind, along with her two children when the tragedy struck.
A Family's Agonizing Search for Answers
Upon hearing the news, Parvati's family—including her husband, son, and brother-in-law Gulzari—rushed to Mathura, beginning a heart-wrenching search across hospitals and mortuaries. "We have been moving from place to place, even reaching the postmortem house, hoping to find her. This accident has destroyed everything for us," a grieving Gulzari said.
Police and administrative officials have assured the family that all efforts are being made to locate the body. "We are working hard to identify their mother," affirmed SP Rawat. The incident has once again highlighted the severe risks of driving on Indian highways during the winter fog season, raising urgent questions about road safety protocols and emergency response on high-speed expressways.
