Associated Press photo.
Unnao/Uttar Pradesh: In a deadly accident where a double-decker sleeper crashed behind a milk tanker on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway, killed 18 people and injured 19 on Wednesday. The accident happened near Jojikot village at 5 am. District Magistrate Gaurang Rathi said that the preliminary conclusion is that the bus, which was going to Delhi from Motihari in Bihar, over-speeded and crashed into the back of the tanker.
Among the dead are 14 men, three women and one child. The drivers of both vehicles were killed. The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital, where they are under treatment.
NDTV reported that the impact of the collision was so huge that victims were flung out of the vehicle. Available visuals from the spot showed bodies on the ground, twisted scraps of metal, shattered glass and destroyed belongings.
A detailed investigation into the accident has been launched. Condoling the tragedy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured.
Extending her condolences, President Droupadi Murmu wrote on X, "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 condolences to the family members of those who have become victims of such sudden death and wish for the speedy recovery of those injured."
Nearly two weeks ago, a deadly crash happened between two cars killed 7, including a child, on the Mumbai-Nagpur express highway. The accident was caused by one of the cars which entered the expressway from the wrong side. The impact of the accident was so severe that one of them was launched into the air to land at some distance while passengers were thrown onto the road.