Daijiworld Media Network - Mathura
Mathura, Dec 16: At least four people were killed and 66 others injured in a major multi-vehicle collision on the Yamuna Expressway in Mathura district early Tuesday, police said.
The accident occurred around 4 am on the Agra–Noida stretch amid extremely low visibility caused by dense fog. At least seven buses and three cars were involved in the collision, which also triggered a fire. Fire and emergency services rushed to the spot, deploying 11 fire tenders to douse the flames and rescue trapped passengers.
District Magistrate Chandra Prakash Singh said the accident took place near milestone 127 under the Baldev police station limits. Senior officials, including the DM and Senior Superintendent of Police, supervised rescue operations carried out by teams from the police, fire services, the National Highways Authority of India and the State Disaster Response Force.
Traffic on the expressway was diverted as the road remained blocked for several hours. Stranded passengers were later transported to their destinations in government vehicles. Eyewitnesses said the collision was followed by loud explosions, prompting nearby villagers to rush to the site and assist in rescue efforts.
A passenger travelling from Lucknow to Delhi said the bus he was in came to a sudden halt after crossing Agra, following which passengers forced open jammed doors to help women and children escape.
The incident comes amid widespread dense fog across Uttar Pradesh and other parts of northern India. Several cities, including Agra, Prayagraj, Bareilly and Moradabad, recorded near-zero visibility on Tuesday morning.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed condolences to the families of the victims and directed officials to ensure proper medical treatment for the injured.
The State has reported a spate of fog-related road accidents in recent days. On Monday, six accidents involving 31 vehicles were reported, while on Sunday, six accidents involving 29 vehicles claimed seven lives. Eight accidents on Saturday involving 40 vehicles had left four people dead.