Guwahati: A deadly chain collision involving multiple vehicles claimed at least four lives and left around 25 people injured on the Delhi–Agra Expressway early Tuesday morning, officials confirmed.
The crash unfolded around 4.30 am on the Agra–Noida stretch near Milestone 127 within the jurisdiction of Baldeo police station in Mathura district. Authorities said the accident involved 10 vehicles, including seven buses and three cars, and was triggered by dense fog that reduced visibility to near zero.
Police said the collision began when three cars crashed into each other, setting off a domino effect as several buses ploughed into the stalled vehicles. Some of the buses caught fire following the impact, and officials fear a few victims were burnt to death before rescue teams could reach them.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene and carried out rescue operations, evacuating passengers trapped inside the damaged vehicles. All injured persons were taken to nearby hospitals, and officials said none of them was in critical condition.
Mathura Senior Superintendent of Police Shlok Kumar attributed the tragedy to heavy fog and poor visibility. He said vehicles collided in quick succession, after which fires broke out in several buses. “Rescue and relief operations were launched immediately, and the situation is now under control,” he added.
SP Mathura Rural Suresh Chandra Rawat said one state roadways bus and six private sleeper buses were involved in the blaze. “Eleven fire tenders were deployed to control the fire. So far, four bodies have been recovered,” he said.
The accident forced authorities to halt traffic on the expressway for several hours, diverting vehicles to alternative routes. After clearing the wreckage, officials arranged government transport to help stranded passengers continue their journeys.
The incident follows a series of fog-induced accidents reported across NCR expressways a day earlier, which together claimed at least six lives.
Similar pile-ups were recorded on the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway, Delhi–Alwar Road, and the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, with dense fog cited as the primary cause.