3 dead, dozen injured in bus collision with container on Agra-Lucknow expressway

A fatal accident occurred on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway near Nasirpur, where a bus carrying pilgrims from Ayodhya to Vrindavan collided with a stationary container, resulting in three fatalities and injuring at least a dozen passengers. The incident took place on Friday, November 8, around the 54 km milestone in the Nasirpur police station area of the expressway. The bus, which had started its journey from Gujarat on November 2, was traveling towards Agra when the accident occurred.

The driver of the bus, Manish, a resident of Badsal in Gujarat, was transporting 19 passengers, most of whom were on a religious tour to visit various sacred sites across India. The pilgrims first visited Ayodhya for darshan of Lord Ram and were en route to Vrindavan when the crash happened. According to eyewitness reports, as the bus was traveling towards Agra, an Eicher truck overtook the vehicle at high speed. In an attempt to avoid a collision with the speeding truck, the bus driver swerved the bus to the left. However, in doing so, the bus collided with a container parked on the roadside, leading to the fatal crash.

The collision caused significant damage to the bus, and several passengers were trapped inside. Emergency services were immediately alerted, and rescue teams from YUPIDA (Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority) and Nasirpur police responded promptly to the scene. They worked to extricate the passengers from the wreckage and rush them to nearby hospitals for treatment.

The injured passengers were taken to various hospitals, including Saifai PGI, Firozabad Medical College, and Shikohabad District Hospital. Among the injured was a 13-year-old boy, identified as Yuvraj, who was declared dead at Shikohabad hospital. Two other injured passengers also succumbed to their injuries during treatment, bringing the total death toll to three. One woman was referred to Saifai PGI for further treatment, and five others were admitted to the Medical College in Firozabad. Several other passengers were admitted to Shikohabad District Hospital, where they are being treated for various injuries.

The bus had been part of a religious tour organized to visit multiple key religious destinations across the country. After the pilgrimage to Ayodhya, the group was traveling to Vrindavan when the accident occurred. Local police and authorities have confirmed that traffic was restored to normal by the afternoon, and the accident site was cleared. Investigations are underway to determine whether the container was legally parked or whether any traffic violations contributed to the accident. Authorities have assured the public that the investigation will be thorough, focusing on the cause of the crash, including potential road safety issues and vehicle safety standards.