Lucknow, November 10 (TNA) Three people were killed, and more than 40 passengers were injured after a bus carrying travellers to Bihar for Chhath overturned and plunged into a nearly 40-foot-deep gorge on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway on Monday.
The accident occurred around 6.30 a.m. near Zero Point in the Para police station area, about 30 km from the district headquarters. The bus was travelling from Bhiwadi in Rajasthan to Chhapra in Bihar, with passengers heading home for the Chhath festival.
Rescue Operation Launched
More than 50 police personnel, two teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and fire brigade personnel launched a rescue operation at the site. Rescue teams used heavy machinery to clear the wreckage and pull out passengers trapped inside the overturned bus.
Around 15 to 16 passengers, including a child, were rescued within about 35 minutes. Police personnel were seen carrying children in their arms and shifting the injured to ambulances for treatment.
Injured Shifted to Hospital
The injured, including several children, were rushed to hospitals for treatment. Many of the passengers were from Bihar, while others were from Maharajganj, Deoria and Azamgarh districts of Uttar Pradesh.
Officials said the injured passengers were being monitored at trauma centres and nearby hospitals. The identities of the deceased were being verified, while authorities were contacting the families of those affected.
Officials said the injured passengers were being monitored at trauma centres and nearby hospitals. The identities of the deceased were being verified, while authorities were contacting the families of those affected.
Tyre Burst Suspected
Preliminary investigation indicated that a tyre burst may have caused the driver to lose control of the bus. The vehicle then overturned from the elevated section of the expressway and fell into the deep roadside ditch.
Police have registered a case and begun a detailed investigation into the accident. Authorities are examining the bus’s condition, speed, maintenance records and other possible factors to determine the exact cause of the crash.