2 bikers dead, dozens injured in UP as dense smog causes visibility crisis

Two bikers lost their lives, and over three dozen people sustained injuries in a series of smog-induced accidents across Noida and western Uttar Pradesh early Tuesday morning. The thick layer of toxic smog, resulting from severe air pollution, caused dangerously low visibility, leading to multiple pile-ups.

On the Eastern Peripheral Expressway near Noida, a truck rammed into another vehicle due to poor visibility. Shortly after, a bus traveling from Panipat to Mathura collided with the stalled trucks. Nearly a dozen passengers sustained injuries and were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. Police arrived at the scene to manage the chaos and clear the debris.

In another incident near Firozabad, a pick-up truck broke down on the Agra-Lucknow expressway, sparking a six-vehicle pile-up. The smog severely limited visibility, leaving drivers unable to avoid the halted truck. Multiple SUVs collided in succession, causing serious injuries to several passengers. Victims were transported to Saifai Medical College for medical attention.

Tragedy also struck Bulandshahr when a speeding truck hit a bike on National Highway-34, killing Mansharam, a resident of Mainpuri. Police detained the truck driver. In Badaun, an unidentified vehicle fatally struck Santosh Singh, a schoolteacher, while he was commuting to work. Similar smog-related crashes in the area injured at least ten others.

The smog crisis in North India, particularly in Delhi and its neighboring states, has escalated into a health emergency. The Air Quality Index in many regions is now categorized as 'severe+', with residents facing respiratory issues, sore throats, and headaches. Local authorities have advised people to minimize outdoor activities and take precautions to protect their health.

Environmentalists and experts attribute the toxic smog to a combination of industrial emissions, vehicular pollution, and seasonal stubble burning in neighboring states. Calls for immediate intervention, including stricter traffic regulations and emergency pollution-control measures, have grown louder as the situation worsens.