At least 18 people were killed and 19 others were injured in the early hours of Wednesday in a collision between a double-decker bus and a milk tanker on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway in Unnao.
The investigation so far points that the accident took place as the bus driver was drunk and was overspeeding the vehicle. The bus was also illegally operated on fake registration.
According to information, the accident occurred at around 5:15 am near Jojikot village in Behtamujawar police station area on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway in Unnao when the double-decker bus travelling from Bihar to Delhi collided with the milk tanker.
Bangarmau Circle Officer Arvind Kumar said the injured had been admitted to a hospital and their condition was stable.
“Today at around 5:15 am, a private bus coming from Motihari, Bihar collided with a milk tanker. Eighteen people have lost their lives and 19 others are injured in the accident. After the initial investigation, it looks like the bus was overspeeding. The injured are getting treatment,” said Unnano District Magistrate Gaurang Rathi.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken cognisance of the accident. Expressing condolences to the families of the deceased, he directed the officials to reach the spot immediately and provide proper treatment to the injured.
Chief Minister Yogi posted on ‘X’, “The loss of life in a road accident in Unnao district is extremely sad and heartbreaking. My condolences are with the bereaved families. District administration officials have been instructed to reach the spot and expedite the relief work. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant a place to the departed souls in his lotus feet and speed up the recovery of the injured.”
The PMO also condoled the deaths and announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each to the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the injured from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund.
Meanwhile, villagers travelling in the bus said that six people of the same family died in the mishap. Their family members said that the deceased from East Champaran include Ashfaq Alam (45), his wife Munchun Khatoon (38), their two children Mohd Sohail (3) and Gulnaz (13), Ashfaq’s brother Mohd Ilyas (35) and Ilyas’ wife Kamrun Nesha (30). Mohd Dilshad (18) and Mohd Shahil (16) of the same family have been injured in the accident. Phool Mohammad (29) and Mohd Shamim (36) of Izorbara of Fenhara police station area are also reported to be injured.
Apart from them, bus driver Ikhlaq of Vriti Tola Sapahi under Panchpakhadi police station of East Champaran also died in the mishap.
Bus conductor Mohd Salim, a resident of Murda Chak village of Piprakothi, has been injured.
Those from in Shivhar who died in the accident include Anil Kumar of Ward 11, and assistant bus driver Deepak Kumar of Ward 3, Satyendra of Gosainpur under Shyampur Bhatha police station and Shivdayal of Kararia village. Apart from these, Lalbabu of Hirmma police station area of the district and his two sons Rampravesh and Bharat Bhushan were seriously injured in the accident. Bittu Kumar of Shivhar is reported to be injured. Both his legs have been cut.
Meanwhile, some passengers claimed that the driver of a sleeper bus with Mahoba registration number left for Delhi from Shivhar in Bihar with about 45 passengers. While reaching Behta Mujawar in Unnao, the bus driver stopped at three places on the way. He stopped for the last time at 12 midnight at a dhaba between Gorakhpur and Basti.
According to a passenger, the bus driver consumed alcohol while sitting with the co-driver. After leaving, he increased the speed of the bus. After crossing the Lucknow toll on the Agra- Lucknow Expressway, the speed of the bus increased to more than 100 km per hour. At five in the morning, near Awasthi Kheda in Behta Mujawar, the bus driver tried to overtake a milk tanker running in the overtaking lane from the left side. Due to being drunk and the bus moving at a high speed, it collided with the tanker from behind. The tanker overturned there and the milk filled in it started flowing. The right side of the bus was torn and most of the passengers, who were in deep sleep, died.
Meanwhile, the cops claimed that none of the documents of the bus are complete. The number of the bus is UP95 T 4720 and the number of the container filled with milk is UP70 CT 3999. From fitness to insurance of the bus, the period has expired. No papers of the bus have been found. The bus is registered in Mahoba district in the name of a person who does farming. Investigation has revealed that Chandan Jaiswal, a resident of Paharganj, Delhi, is operating the bus illegally.
ARTO Enforcement Arvind Singh has lodged a report in Behta Mujawar police station on the basis of the bus number.
DM Gaurang Rathi took charge of the treatment of the injured in the district hospital, while Superintendent of Police Siddharth Shankar Meena first reached the spot and then the district hospital. The SP said that an investigation was being conducted to find out how the bus was being operated illegally.
