Yamuna Expressway pile-up: 13 dead, 35 injured as severe fog sparks deadly chain collision
Near-zero visibility led to a massive early-morning collision involving 7 buses and 3 cars in Mathura, with vehicles catching fire; UP CM Adityanath expresses condolences, announces compensation
Thirteen people died of burns and 35 sustained injuries when a vehicle pile-up on the Yamuna Expressway in Mathura early Tuesday (December 16) sparked a big fire, a police officer said.
At least seven buses and three smaller vehicles collided with each other in the dense fog around 4.30 am, the officer said.
The incident occurred under the Baldev Police Station jurisdiction.
"The vehicles collided due to low visibility on the Agra-to-Noida side of the Yamuna Expressway. Some vehicles also caught fire. All injured have been sent to the hospital," SSP Mathura Shlok Kumar said.
Police said seven buses and three cars were involved in the pile-up amid dense fog, leaving motorists with almost no time to brake or evade the impact. The collision was so forceful that the vehicles caught fire almost immediately, trapping passengers and causing panic.
Two of the deceased were identified as 44-year-old Akhilendra Pratap Yadav, a resident of Prayagraj, and 75-year-old Rampal from Maharajganj district, said Ranjana Sachan, SHO of Baldev Police Station.
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Visuals from the spot revealed charred remains of buses that caught fire. Craned were called in to remove them from the road.
The passengers were sent to their destinations in government vehicles, the officer said. Since the road is blocked, diversions are made, he added.
Fire engines, police teams and ambulances were deployed to the site shortly after the incident.
UP CM Adityanath expresses condolences
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in a post in Hindi on X, expressed his condolences to the kin of the deceased.
"The loss of life in the road accident on the Yamuna Expressway in Mathura district is extremely tragic and heartbreaking. My deepest condolences are with the bereaved families," he said.
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"I have instructed the district administration officials to ensure proper treatment for the injured. I pray to Lord Ram to grant peace to the departed souls and a speedy recovery to the injured," said Adityanath.
According to a post from his office, Adityanath announced Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased, and Rs 50,000 each to the injured.
(With agency inputs)