18 dead, over 30 injured as bus rams into milk tanker on Lucknow-Agra Expressway

UNNAO (Uttar Pradesh): Eighteen people lost their lives and more than 30 were injured when a double-decker sleeper bus rammed into a milk container on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh at 5.15 am on Wednesday.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and instructed the district administration to ensure the injured receive proper treatment. He also wished for their speedy recovery.

On X, CM Adityanath said, “The loss of life in a road accident in Unnao district is extremely sad and heart-wrenching. My condolences are with the bereaved families. District administration officials have been instructed to reach the spot and speed up the relief work. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to give a place to the departed souls and provide a speedy recovery to the injured”.

#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: Visuals from the Lucknow-Agra Expressway in Unnao where a bus collided with a milk container in which 18 people lost their lives and 19 others were injured. pic.twitter.com/abuFTDGh1M

— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2024

After the initial investigation, the District Magistrate of Unnao, Gaurang Rathi, confirmed that 18 people died and 19 were injured. He stated, “Around 5.15 am, a private bus coming from Motihari, Bihar, collided with a milk tanker. Eighteen people have lost their lives, and 19 others are injured in the accident”.

The CM directed officials to expedite the relief work immediately. The double-decker sleeper bus was travelling from Motihari, Bihar, to Delhi when it hit the milk tanker from behind on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway near Gadha Village in the Behtamujawar police station limits. Upon receiving information about the incident, police led by Circle Officer of Bangarmau, Arvind Chaurasia, rushed to the spot and began rescue operations.

About 57 passengers were travelling in a private bus which was going to Delhi. Six of the injured were referred to the trauma centre, and the rest were treated at the district hospital.

#WATCH | Unnao bus accident: DM Gaurang Rathi says “About 57 passengers were travelling in a private bus which was going to Delhi. 18 people died and 19 others were injured after the bus collided with a milk container at 5:15 am. About 20 people were safe, and they are being sent… pic.twitter.com/fXSKENrYPS

— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2024

The Unnao district magistrate further added that about 20 people were safe and were being sent to Delhi. “About 20 people were safe, and they are being sent to Delhi. We have referred six of the injured to the Trauma Centre, the rest will be treated at the district hospital. We have adequate arrangements for treatment and we will take all necessary action as soon as possible”, Rathi said.

Unnao SP Siddharth Shankar Meena said, “A bus collided with a milk container on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway in which 18 people have lost their lives and 19 others are injured”. Meena further added that the injured are getting treated in the district hospital and five injured were referred to Lucknow. “The injured are getting treated in the district hospital. Five injured have been referred to Lucknow….,” he added.

#WATCH | Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh Dy CM Brajesh Pathak says, “…18 people have lost their lives while 19 are injured and have been sent to Unnao district hospital. Injured are being shifted to higher-level hospitals. All hospitals nearer to Unnao are being put on alert. The… https://t.co/H5TantK4cP pic.twitter.com/NuG99JgIpj

— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2024

Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak on Wednesday met the injured persons at hospital and assured proper treatment to them. “…18 people have lost their lives while several are injured and have been sent to Unnao district hospital. Injured are being shifted to higher-level hospitals. All hospitals nearer to Unnao are being put on alert”, Deputy CM Pathak said.

He further said that most injured people are from Bihar and that the UP government is in contact with its Bihar counterpart. “The trauma center of KGMO is on alert, I have come and seen all the arrangements. Most of the injured people are from Bihar, and we are in contact with the Bihar govt. Reasons for the accident will come after investigation, our priority is to provide proper treatment to the injured people”, Brajesh Pathak stated.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs two lakhs to the kin of each deceased while Rs 50,000 will be given to the injured.”The Prime Minister has announced an 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″, said an official statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

President Droupadi Murmu expressed grief over the incident, terming it ‘extremely sad’. “The news of the death of many people in a road accident on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh is extremely sad”, an official statement from the Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a post on ‘X’.

The President further expressed her condolences to the family of the deceased in the tragic accident. “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”, the statement mentioned.

Congress President Malkarjun Kharge took to social media platform X to express his grief on the tragic incident that occurred on the Lucknow-Agra expressway and posted, “The news of the death of 18 people in a tragic road accident on the Lucknow-Agra expressway, Unnao is extremely sad”.

Further, he said, “We express our deepest condolences to the bereaved families of the victims. We wish a speedy recovery to all those injured in the accident. The administration is requested not to leave any stone unturned in helping the victims. There is an appeal to all the workers of the INDIA party to provide all possible help to the victims”. (ANI)