Kanpur: Seven passengers were killed and 25 others sustained injuries when a sleeper AC bus traveling from Delhi to Siwan in Bihar overturned on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway in Unnao early Tuesday. The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, with preliminary investigations suggesting he may have dozed off at the wheel.
Accident Details
The incident occurred near Milestone 262 on the expressway under the Auras police station area in Unnao. Eyewitnesses recounted that the speeding bus suddenly swerved, rammed into the divider, and ended up hanging precariously on the roadside railing. The impact flung several passengers through windows onto the ground below the elevated expressway, while one passenger suffered a severed leg.
Victims
Among the deceased were Sub-Inspector Ramchandra Ram (59), posted at Bihar’s Siwan Police Lines, and prisoner Chhatarpal Singh Tomar (59), a resident of Gurugram. According to information, the Siwan Police team had taken the prisoner to Gurugram court for a hearing in a murder case on May 24. Other victims included Suresh Kumar Jaiswal and Videshi Gupta from Gorakhpur, and Vijay Kumar from Basti. The identities of two others were yet to be established.
Rescue Operations
Police reached the spot upon receiving information and launched relief and rescue operations. As many as 32 injured, including three policemen, were brought to a nearby Community Health Centre (CHC), where doctors declared six of them dead. The remaining were referred to the trauma centre in Lucknow Trauma, where one more injured person died. Most passengers on the bus were residents of Basti, Siddharthnagar, and Gorakhpur.
Official Responses
Taking cognisance of the accident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath wished the injured a speedy recovery and directed officials to provide prompt assistance to the victims. He shared a post on social media, stating, “The loss of lives in the unfortunate road accident on the Lucknow–Agra Expressway in Unnao district is tragic and heartbreaking. My condolences are with the bereaved families.” Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary also expressed grief, describing the incident as deeply distressing and heart-wrenching, and prayed for peace for the departed souls and a speedy recovery for the injured.
Traffic Disruption and Eyewitness Account
Traffic on the expressway was disrupted for about 30 minutes following the accident. Injured constable Ramji, posted at Siwan Police Lines in Bihar, stated they had left Delhi around 8:30 pm on Monday. “All passengers were fast asleep when suddenly a sound like an explosion was heard. When I woke up, the bus had overturned and there was screaming all around. I later learned that the sub-inspector and prisoner travelling with him had died.”
Prisoner Background
Siwan Jail Superintendent Devashish Sinha stated that the prisoner had been lodged in Siwan jail for the past three years in connection with the murder of a Zila Parishad clerk. Cases under Section 307 and the Arms Act were also registered against him in Gurugram. Police had taken him for testimony in that case.
Official Statement
Safipur CO Sonam Singh said: “Five people died on the spot, while two during treatment. One person was discharged from the community centre and 25 others were referred to a higher centre in Lucknow.”
