UP: 18 dead as sleeper bus crashes into milk tanker on Lucknow expressway

Eighteen people died and 19 were injured when their sleeper bus crashed into a milk container on the Lucknow-Agra expressway in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao district on Wednesday (July 10) morning.

The double-decker bus was reportedly on its way from Bihar’s Sitamarhi to Delhi when it hit the milk container from the rear around 5.15 am. The accident occurred near Jojikot village in Behta Mujhawar police station area in Unnao.

Police have taken all the injured out of the bus and admitted them to CHC Bangarmau for treatment.

Bus was speeding

District Magistrate Gaurang Rathi said prima facie the bus was speeding and hit the milk tanker from behind. A probe has been launched into the matter, he said.

Additional Director General of Police, Lucknow, SB Shiradkar, told news agency PTI that 14 men, three women, and a child were killed.

Bangarmau Circle Officer (CO) Arvind Kumar said due to the impact of the collision, both the bus and milk tanker overturned. Drivers of the two vehicles were among the dead.

He said the injured were taken to a nearby hospital and their condition was stated to be stable. Police are trying to identify the victims.

Passengers were asleep

Many bus passengers were asleep at the time of the incident.

“We were sleeping. I don’t know what happened,” Mohd Shamim, a passenger who suffered head injuries in the accident, told reporters at the hospital.

According to an official release, the district administration has issued helpline numbers 0515-29707662, 0515-2970767, 10774 (toll-free), 96514327035, 94544174476 and 8081211297.

CM’s message

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed condolences to the bereaved families of the deceased. He said officials have been instructed to ensure the best treatment for the injured.

“The loss of lives in a road accident in Unnao district is extremely sad and heartbreaking. My condolences are with the bereaved families,” he said in a post on X.

“District administration officials have been instructed to reach the spot and expedite the relief work. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant a place to the departed souls at his feet and for the speedy recovery of the injured,” the chief minister wrote.

President's meesage

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives in the accident.

In a post on X, Murmu said, “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.”

Ex-gratia from PMNRF

PM Modi announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased.

“The road accident in Unnao is extremely painful. My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this (accident). May God give them strength in this difficult time. Along with this, I wish the injured a speedy recovery,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) quoted Modi as saying in a post on X.

Modi said the local administration is extending all possible help to the victims under the supervision of the state government.

“The Prime Minister has announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased in the mishap in Unnao. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000,” the PMO said.

Amit Shah tweets

Union Home Minister Amit Shah extended his condolences to the families of those killed in the accident and said the local administration was providing all possible treatment to the injured.

“The road accident in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh is heartbreaking. In this hour of grief, my condolences are with the families of those who lost their lives in this horrific accident. The local administration is providing all possible treatment to the injured. I wish the injured a speedy recovery,” Shah said in a post on X in Hindi.

Congress messages

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge condoled the loss of lives in the accident and urged the administration to provide all possible help to those affected.

He also appealed to the INDIA bloc workers to provide all possible help to those affected.

In a post in Hindi on X, Kharge said, “The news of the death of 18 people in a tragic road accident on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway in Unnao, UP, is extremely saddening. We express our deepest condolences to the bereaved families of the victims. We wish speedy recovery to all those injured in the accident. The administration is requested to leave no stone unturned in helping the victims.”

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the news of the death of a large number of people in a horrific road accident in Unnao was extremely saddening.

“May God grant peace to the departed souls. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” she wrote.

(With agency inputs)