EIGHTEEN people were killed and 19 injured when a doubledecker sleeper bus headed for Delhi hit a milk tanker on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway here on Wednesday, officials said. The accident occurred around 5 am near Jojikot village in Behta Mujhawar police station area. District Magistrate Gaurang Rathi said, it appears that the bus, which was coming from Motihari in Bihar, was speeding and hit the milk tanker from behind. Eighteen people died and 19 were injured in the accident. A probe has been launched into the matter, he said. Rathi said 20 passengers who sustained minor injuries were sent to Delhi in another bus, which was carrying 60 people. Additional Director General of Police, Lucknow, S B Shiradkar told PTI that 14 men, three women and a child were killed in the accident. Bangarmau Circle Officer (CO) Arvind Kumar said due to the collision, both the bus and milk tanker overturned. Drivers of the two vehicles were among the dead.

 

He said the injured were rushed to a hospital and their condition was stated to be stable. Glass shards and people’s belongings lay scattered on the highway next to the overturned bus and milk tanker. Cranes were used to put the two vehicles back on their wheels and they were later towed away. The impact of the collision left the front portion of the bus badly mangled with one side ripped open. “We were sleeping. I don’t know what happened,” Mohd Shamim, a passenger who sustained head injuries in the accident, told reporters at the hospital. Another passenger, Dilshad, lost six of the eight family members he was travelling with. “We were sleeping at the time of the accident and woke up to find ourselves trapped inside the bus.

 

Those who reached the spot were busy recording videos instead of helping,” Dilshad said He said the bus driverwas speeding all night. Uttar Pradesh Chief MinisterYogiAdityanathsaid officials have been instructed to ensure the best treatment for the injured. “The loss of lives in a road accidentinUnnaodistrictis extremely sad and heartbreaking. My condolences are with the bereaved families,” he said in a post on X. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister NarendraModicondoledthe loss of lives in the accident. InapostonX,Murmusaid, “The news of the death of many people in a road accident on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh is extremely sad. I express my deepest condolencestothefamilymembers of those who have become victimsofsuchsuddendeath and wish for the speedy recovery of those injured.” PMModiannouncedanex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased.