Tragic Multi-Vehicle Collision on Yamuna Expressway Claims Lives
Devastating Accident in Mathura
On the morning of December 16, a severe accident occurred on the Yamuna Expressway in Mathura, resulting in a tragic loss of at least 13 lives and leaving over 25 individuals injured due to a massive pile-up caused by thick fog.
The incident took place around 4:30 AM within the jurisdiction of Baldev police station, where a collision involving seven buses and three smaller vehicles occurred in conditions of nearly zero visibility.
"The crash was a result of poor visibility on the Agra-to-Noida segment of the expressway, leading to some vehicles catching fire. All injured parties have been transported to medical facilities," stated Shlok Kumar, the Senior Superintendent of Police in Mathura.
The fatalities were primarily due to burns, with two victims identified as Akhilendra Pratap Yadav, aged 44 from Prayagraj, and 75-year-old Rampal from Maharajganj, as confirmed by Baldev Police Station's SHO, Ranjana Sachan.
Among the injured, fifteen were taken to the district hospital, nine to a community health center, and two were sent to SN Medical College in Agra, according to Sachan.
Images from the scene depicted the charred remains of the buses involved in the fire, prompting the deployment of cranes to clear the wreckage from the roadway.
Remains of burnt vehicles at the accident site (Photo: @mathurapolice/X)
Mathura Police reported via social media that the pile-up at Milestone 127 involved multiple vehicles, including seven buses and three smaller ones.
"Fortunately, none of the injured individuals are in critical condition," the police statement noted.
Passengers were provided alternative transportation to their destinations using government vehicles, as the road remained blocked, necessitating diversions.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended his condolences to the families of the deceased through a microblogging platform.
"I have directed district administration officials to ensure that the injured receive proper medical care. I pray to Lord Ram for peace for the departed souls and a swift recovery for the injured," Chief Minister Adityanath remarked.
His office announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured.
This incident follows another tragic event on December 15, where fog contributed to the deaths of three individuals, including two police officers, in separate accidents in Haryana's Sonipat and Nuh districts.
In Nuh, a CISF Inspector was among the two fatalities on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, while in Sonipat, a female assistant sub-inspector lost her life when her vehicle collided with a truck making an illegal turn on the highway.