By Muita Njambi
In a tragic incident on Wednesday, a double-decker passenger bus collided with a milk truck in northern India, resulting in the deaths of at least 18 people.
Nineteen injured individuals were rushed to the hospital by local villagers.
“The collision occurred on an expressway in Uttar Pradesh state, and 19 injured people were rushed to the hospital by villagers in the area,” said police officer Arvind Kumar.
Their conditions are reported to be stable, according to police officer Arvind Kumar.
The bus was traveling from Bihar to New Delhi when the accident happened.
Authorities are working to identify the victims.
“Authorities are in the process of identifying the victims, and a probe has been launched to determine the exact cause of the accident,” Kumar added.
Gaurang Rathi, a government official, stated that a preliminary investigation suggests the bus may have been speeding when it struck the milk truck from behind.
The impact caused both vehicles to overturn. The collision was severe enough to tear off one side of the bus, ejecting passengers from the vehicle. Disturbing images showed bodies scattered across the road.
India has one of the highest road death rates globally, with hundreds of thousands of fatalities and injuries each year.
Most crashes are attributed to reckless driving, poorly maintained roads, and aging vehicles.
This recent accident underscores the ongoing issues with road safety in the country.
In a similar tragic incident in May, a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims skidded and rolled into a deep gorge on a mountainous highway in Indian-controlled Kashmir, resulting in at least 21 deaths.
These frequent accidents highlight the urgent need for improved road safety measures and stricter regulations.
Authorities continue to investigate the Uttar Pradesh accident, aiming to prevent such tragedies in the future. The community mourns the loss of life and prays for the swift recovery of the injured.