Unnao (UP), 10 July

Eighteen people were killed and 19 injured when a double-decker sleeper bus headed for Delhi hit a milk tanker on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway here on Wednesday, officials said. The accident occurred around 5am near Jojikot village in Behta Mujhawar police station area.

District Magistrate Gaurang Rathi said it appears that the bus, which was coming from Motihari in Bihar, was speeding and hit the milk tanker from behind. Eighteen people died and 19 were injured in the accident. A probe has been launched into the matter, he said.

Rathi said 20 passengers who sustained minor injuries were sent to Delhi in another bus. Additional Director General of Police, Lucknow, SB Shiradkar told PTI that 14 men, three women and a child were killed.

Bangarmau Circle Officer (CO) Arvind Kumar said due to the collision, both the bus and milk tanker overturned. Drivers of the two vehicles were among the dead. He said the injured were rushed to a hospital and their condition was stated to be stable. Police have identified 14 of the deceased so far.

Glass shards and people's belongings lay scattered on the highway next to the overturned bus and milk tanker. Cranes were used to put the two vehicles back on their wheels and they were later towed away. The impact of the collision left the front portion of the bus badly mangled with one side ripped open. "We were sleeping. I don't know what happened," Mohd Shamim, a passenger who sustained head injuries in the accident, told reporters at the hospital.

Another passenger, Dilshad, said he was travelling with eight family members and was clueless about the fate of six of them. "I and my brother are in the district hospital, we don't know where the other family members are. We were sleeping at the time of the accident and woke up to find ourselves trapped inside the bus. Those who reached the spot were busy recording videos instead of helping," he said.

Dilshad said the bus driver was speeding all night. Another injured, Chandni, said there were around 60 passengers in the bus and officials reached the accident spot an hour after the incident. She thanked the local administration for facilitating a video call with her husband.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said officials have been instructed to ensure the best treatment for the injured. "The loss of lives in a road accident in Unnao district is extremely sad and heartbreaking. My condolences are with the bereaved families," he said in a post on X.

"District administration officials have been instructed to reach the spot and expedite the relief work. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant a place to the departed souls at his feet and for the speedy recovery of the injured," the chief minister said.

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives in the accident.

In a post on X, Murmu said, "The news of the death of many people in a road accident on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh is extremely sad. 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."

PM Modi announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased. "The road accident in Unnao is extremely painful. My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this (accident). May God give them strength in this difficult time. Along with this, I wish the injured a speedy recovery," the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) quoted Modi as saying in a post on X.

Modi said the local administration is extending all possible help to the victims under the supervision of the state government. "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," the PMO said.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav posed a series of questions to the BJP-led state government over the incident. "Where was the highway police? Was regular patrolling not being done? How long did it take for the highway ambulance service to arrive after the accident and what was its role in relation to the casualties?" he said.

According to an official release, the district administration has issued helpline numbers -- 0515-29707662, 0515-2970767, 10774 (toll-free), 96514327035, 94544174476 and 8081211297.