LUCKNOW, India—A tragic incident unfolded in northern India on Wednesday as a double-decker passenger bus collided with a milk truck, resulting in the loss of at least 18 lives and numerous injuries, according to officials.
The collision took place on an expressway in Uttar Pradesh state, with 19 injured individuals being swiftly transported to the hospital by local villagers, reported police officer Arvind Kumar. Fortunately, their condition was said to be stable. The bus was en route from Bihar in the north to the capital city of New Delhi.
Mr. Kumar stated, “Authorities are currently working on identifying the victims, and an investigation has been initiated to ascertain the precise cause of the accident.”
Government official Gaurang Rathi mentioned that initial findings suggest the bus may have been speeding when it rear-ended the milk truck, causing both vehicles to overturn. The impact was so severe that one side of the bus was ripped off, leading to passengers being thrown out of the vehicle. Distressing images broadcasted on television depicted bodies strewn across the road.
India grapples with some of the highest road fatality rates globally, with hundreds of thousands of individuals losing their lives or sustaining injuries each year. The majority of accidents are attributed to reckless driving, poorly maintained roads, and aged vehicles.
In a separate tragic incident in May, a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims veered off the road and plunged into a deep gorge on a mountainous highway in Indian-controlled Kashmir, claiming the lives of at least 21 people.
Related Stories
By Biswajeet Banerjee
