Tragedy struck major highways in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh early Saturday morning, resulting in the deaths of five people and leaving several travelers injured. The first incident took place along the Purvanchal Expressway in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, where a speeding truck rear-ended a stationary passenger bus. The second crash occurred in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh, where an oncoming truck struck a motorcycle, prompting angry local protests and traffic snarls.
Purvanchal Expressway Collision Kills Two Bus Drivers
The collision in Uttar Pradesh occurred near Geranwa village within the jurisdiction of the Subeha police station in Haidergarh. It happened at kilometer marker 52.7 of the Purvanchal Expressway around 5:00 AM on Saturday. The private bus was en route from Delhi to Bihar, carrying approximately 80 passengers. During the journey, the two drivers pulled the vehicle aside to inspect the air pressure in the tires. While they were outside examining the wheels, a truck approaching from behind slammed forcefully into the rear of the vehicle.
Both drivers were crushed in the impact and died on the spot. Authorities identified the deceased drivers as Ajay Kumar Yadav and Deep Chandar Rai. The force of the crash completely crushed the front cabin of the truck. The truck driver, his cleaner, and more than half a dozen passengers seated inside the bus sustained injuries. Emergency responders, including personnel from the Subeha police station, expressway rescue teams, and ambulance crews, arrived swiftly to transfer the injured to the hospital. Both bodies were sent to the district headquarters in Barabanki for post-mortem examinations as police initiated a formal investigation.
Speeding Truck Strikes Motorbike in Dhar, Sparking Protests
Meanwhile, in Madhya Pradesh, another fatal road accident occurred at the Pitgara intersection in Badnawar, Dhar district. The incident took place on Saturday morning along the Mhow-Neemuch four-lane highway. A fast-moving truck crashed into a motorcycle, instantly killing three people on board. A young girl who was also traveling on the two-wheeler suffered severe injuries.
Responders rushed the injured girl to the Civil Hospital in Badnawar for urgent medical treatment. Following the incident, enraged local villagers gathered at the intersection, placing the deceased bodies on the highway to block traffic completely. The roadblock lasted for nearly an hour, leading to extensive vehicle backups stretching along the busy Ratlam-Indore route before authorities intervened to restore normal vehicle movement.
