Sleeper bus overturns on Ganga Expressway after tyre burst; 1 dead and over 30 injured

At least 1 passenger lost their life and over 30 others were injured after a sleeper bus overturned on the Ganga Expressway following a sudden tyre burst, police said.

The accident took place near Sarai Piparia village in the Musajhaag area around 12:30 am. The bus was travelling from Khaga in Fatehpur district to Ludhiana when the incident occurred.

Senior Superintendent of Police Ankita Sharma said the rear tyre of the sleeper bus burst near the 202-km mark on the expressway, causing the driver to lose control.

“The bus overturned three to four times after losing balance and crossed the divider before falling onto the opposite lane,” she said.

1 passenger identified as Anuj (34), a resident of Fatehpur district, died on the spot. More than 30 passengers were injured, with six in critical condition who have been referred to Bareilly for advanced treatment.

Police said several passengers were trapped inside the mangled bus after the crash.

“It was fortunate that the bus did not fall into a deep roadside ditch. Otherwise, the casualties could have been much higher,” the SSP added.

Rescue teams from Musajhaag, Dataganj and nearby police stations, along with health department officials and ambulances, rushed to the spot soon after the alert.

Officials said rescuers broke bus windows and cut through seats to pull out trapped passengers during the operation.

The injured were shifted to nearby community health centres and the district hospital. Around 24 passengers suffered minor injuries, while six remain in critical condition.

District Magistrate Avneesh Rai said the administration is monitoring the situation closely and ensuring proper medical treatment for all injured passengers.

Preliminary findings suggest that overspeeding combined with the tyre burst may have caused the accident.