Mathura, Uttar Pradesh: Several buses caught fire following a massive multi-vehicle collision on the Delhi-Agra (Yamuna) Expressway in the early hours of Tuesday, triggering panic and fears of casualties. The accident occurred near the Mathura stretch of the expressway amid dense fog, which severely reduced visibility.
According to officials, the pile-up involved multiple buses and other vehicles, including cars. The collision was so intense that at least two buses were engulfed in flames shortly after the crash, making rescue operations extremely challenging.
Police and emergency services rushed to the spot immediately after receiving information. Fire tenders were deployed to douse the flames, while rescue teams worked to pull out passengers trapped inside the burnt and mangled vehicles.
Authorities have confirmed that at least 13 people lost their lives in the accident, while more than 30 others sustained injuries, some of them critical. The injured were shifted to nearby hospitals in Mathura and Agra for treatment.
Preliminary investigation suggests that poor visibility due to dense fog was a major factor behind the accident. Officials said vehicles were moving at high speed when the collision occurred, leading to a chain reaction involving several buses.
Traffic on the Delhi-Agra Expressway remained disrupted for several hours as damaged vehicles were removed and the road was cleared. Senior police officials and district administration officers are monitoring the situation closely.
An inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the exact cause of the accident. Authorities have urged commuters to exercise extreme caution while travelling on highways during foggy conditions and to strictly adhere to speed limits.
