Bareilly — A pilgrimage trip turned tragic early Wednesday when a bus carrying devotees from Nainital lost control and overturned on the Bareilly-Haridwar Highway, killing an 18-year-old woman and injuring more than 20 others.
The accident occurred around 3:20 a.m. between Nisara and Sardar Nagar villages under the jurisdiction of Jahannabad police station. The bus, which was reportedly carrying about 60 passengers, veered off the road and plunged into a roadside ditch after the driver allegedly lost control.
Eyewitnesses said they heard screams from inside the overturned vehicle, prompting villagers and passersby to rush to the scene before police and emergency teams arrived. Rescue operations were launched immediately, with authorities pulling out several passengers trapped inside the wreckage.
The deceased was identified as Durga, a resident of Madhinath Choupala in Bareilly. The injured passengers — many from Subhashnagar, Bareilly — were first taken to the Jahannabad Community Health Centre and later referred to the district hospital for advanced treatment.
Police have registered a case and launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident, which preliminary reports suggest could be due to driver fatigue or speeding.
Authorities have urged caution among travellers during late-night journeys, citing poor visibility and sharp highway turns as recurring hazards along the Bareilly-Haridwar stretch.
