Agra: A tragic road accident on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao district claimed six lives and left 21 others injured after a double-decker air-conditioned bus lost control and overturned in the early hours of Tuesday.
The mishap occurred near Nibha Kheda village at around 5:15 am when the bus, travelling from Delhi to Bihar with nearly 50 passengers onboard, suddenly veered off course before flipping over on the expressway.
Police officials said initial findings suggest the driver may have fallen asleep while driving, causing him to lose control of the vehicle. The impact of the crash was severe, leaving several passengers trapped inside the overturned bus as cries for help drew local residents and emergency responders to the scene.
Among those killed in the accident was a police sub-inspector who was travelling as a passenger. The identities of the other deceased victims are being verified by authorities.
Rescue teams, assisted by local police and villagers, rushed to evacuate passengers from the damaged vehicle. The injured were shifted to nearby hospitals, where some are reported to be in critical condition.
Traffic movement on a section of the expressway was briefly disrupted as emergency services carried out rescue and clearance operations.
Senior district officials reached the accident site soon after receiving information and supervised relief efforts. Authorities have ordered a detailed investigation to determine the exact circumstances behind the crash.
Officials said the role of driver fatigue is being examined closely, while transport department teams are also inspecting the condition of the bus and reviewing whether safety norms were followed.
The accident once again raises concerns over long-distance night travel and driver exhaustion on major highways, an issue that has contributed to several serious road mishaps in recent years.
