A tragic accident on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway claimed the lives of a mother and her daughter early Friday morning. The incident occurred under the Takha police station area of Etawah district, near Khargapur Saraiya village at kilometer 128.9 around 4 am.
Details of the Incident
According to police reports, a sleeper bus traveling from Siddharthnagar to Delhi had stopped on the expressway to allow passengers to relieve themselves. During this pause, Kusum (50) and her daughter Anjali (13), residents of Khojpur village in Siddharthnagar district, disembarked from the bus. Disoriented by the darkness, they inadvertently walked toward the central divider. A speeding car approaching from behind struck them forcefully, causing instantaneous death.
Police Response and Investigation
Upon receiving the report, officers from Usrahar police station and the expressway security team arrived at the scene. The authorities took charge of the bodies and sent them to Saifai PGI for postmortem examination. The family members have been notified of the tragic loss.
The driver of the car has been identified as Harsh Pandey from Dawatpur village in Fatehpur district. The vehicle was seized at the Kudrail expressway post. Station House Officer Balrajsingh Bhati stated that initial investigations suggest the accident could have been avoided if the bus driver had stopped at a toll plaza or a safer location instead of the expressway. He emphasized that heavy darkness contributed to the disorientation of the victims.
Traffic Impact
Traffic on the expressway remained unaffected throughout the incident and subsequent investigation.
Safety Recommendations
Authorities urge bus operators to ensure passenger safety by stopping only at designated areas such as toll plazas or rest stops, especially during nighttime. Pedestrians are advised to remain cautious and avoid wandering near high-speed roadways in low visibility conditions.
