Tragedy Strikes on Delhi-Dehradun Expressway
A devastating road accident in Saharanpur on Friday resulted in the death of seven people, including an entire family, in a heartbreaking incident that has left a community in mourning. The sole survivors of this tragedy are a 52-year-old woman from Haridwar and her 5-year-old grandson.
The Fatal Collision
The horrific incident occurred when a gravel-laden dumper overturned onto a family vehicle on the Delhi-Dehradun expressway near Sona Saiyyad Majra village. The victims died instantly when the massive vehicle crushed their car under its weight.
Among the deceased were Sushila Saini of Chhanga Majri village in Haridwar district's Bhagwanpur subdivision, who lost her only son Shekhar Saini (30), daughter-in-law Jully (20), and their two-and-a-half-year-old son Anirudh. The tragedy extended to Jully's relatives, including her brother Sandeep (25), mother Rani (55), and two other family members, Vipin (22) and Umesh Singh (55).
Family's Final Journey
The family was traveling to a village near Chhutmalpur to attend a funeral when the accident occurred. Shekhar had picked up his in-laws from a nearby village before continuing their journey. As their car passed through Sona Saiyyad Majra, the dumper coming from the opposite direction toppled over, crushing their vehicle completely.
The only silver lining in this dark cloud was that Sushila's 5-year-old grandson Abhinandan survived because he stayed home for school. "If he had gone with them, I would have been left with no one at all," said Sushila, who lost her husband nearly 20 years ago and now faces the burden of raising the child alone while working as a laborer in a local factory.
Aftermath and Community Response
The bodies were cremated on Saturday evening as villagers and local leaders visited the family to offer condolences. Suresh Saini, a relative of the deceased, emphasized the need for immediate government support, stating, "This family has suffered a massive tragedy. The government must extend financial assistance to them without delay."
This tragic incident highlights the ongoing concerns about road safety on Indian highways and serves as a painful reminder of how quickly lives can change on the country's busy expressways.
