Tragic Chain of Accidents on Delhi-Meerut Expressway Claims Two Lives, Injures Three
A devastating sequence of events unfolded on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway late Monday night, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and leaving three others injured. The incidents occurred near the Sector 62 roundabout in Noida, causing significant traffic disruption and highlighting ongoing safety concerns on the busy highway.
Initial Crash and Rescue Attempt
The chain of accidents began around 11 PM on Monday when a pickup van, traveling from Lal Kuan in Ghaziabad towards Delhi, collided with a truck that was parked on the roadside near the International Trade Expo Centre Limited. The impact was severe, trapping the pickup driver, identified as Hariom, a resident of Delhi's Mangolpuri, inside the vehicle.
In a display of humanity, four truck drivers—Devendra and Virendra from Shahjahanpur district, Govind Chauhan from Azamgarh, and Sahil from Baghpat—stopped their vehicles to assist in rescuing the injured man. Eyewitness accounts and police reports indicate that the group was actively trying to pull Hariom from the damaged cabin when tragedy struck again.
Second Collision and Fatalities
While the rescuers were attempting to extricate Hariom, a Delhi-bound truck carrying vegetables approached at high speed and rammed into the men standing on the carriageway. The collision was described as severe by eyewitnesses, with the force hurling the rescuers several meters onto the road.
Police teams rushed to the scene and, with the assistance of cranes, managed to free the trapped driver and clear the damaged vehicles. All five injured men were transported to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment.
Tragically, Devendra and Govind Chauhan were declared dead upon arrival at the hospital. The remaining three victims—Hariom, Virendra, and Sahil—are currently undergoing treatment and are reported to be in stable condition.
Eyewitness Accounts and Traffic Disruption
An eyewitness named Shahrukh, who was returning from a wedding at the time, provided a harrowing account of the incident. He stated that four people were actively helping the injured driver when the speeding truck struck them, dragging the victims for several meters. Shahrukh himself suffered a minor hand injury while assisting at the scene.
Another witness, Vikas, who was driving by in a car, informed police that Hariom's foot was stuck in the steering wheel of the minivan, and the others were attempting to pull him out when the second collision occurred.
The accidents caused significant traffic disruption on the expressway for several hours. Officials deployed cranes to remove the damaged vehicles from the roadway and restore normal traffic flow.
Investigation and Arrest
The driver of the vegetable-laden truck has been taken into custody by authorities, and legal proceedings have been initiated. Officials confirmed that further investigation is underway to establish the precise circumstances leading to the second collision.
Alarming Accident Statistics on Delhi-Meerut Expressway
This tragic incident comes against a backdrop of concerning safety statistics on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway. According to traffic department data, the number of accidents on the expressway rose by a staggering 95% last year, while fatalities increased by 19%.
Between January and November 30 of last year, a total of 41 accidents were reported on the expressway, resulting in 25 deaths and 39 injuries. During the same period in 2024, there were 21 accidents, which claimed 21 lives and left 37 others injured.
Officials Identify Contributing Factors
Transportation officials have attributed most crashes on the expressway to several key factors, including speeding, wrong-side driving, and illegal parking. They have also pointed to the removal of traffic personnel from expressway entry and exit points earlier this year as a contributing factor to the spike in accidents.
The expressway is currently monitored through a network of CCTV cameras installed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), but this latest incident raises questions about the effectiveness of surveillance alone in preventing such tragedies.
This chain of accidents serves as a sobering reminder of the critical importance of road safety measures and responsible driving behavior on India's rapidly expanding highway network.
