Unnao Accident: Bus Ran Without Required Permit And Insurance

At least 18 people lost their lives and 19 others were injured when a double-decker bus collided with a milk tanker near Gadha village in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh. The accident occurred early this morning on the Lucknow-Agra expressway. The bus was travelling from Bihar to Delhi and was mostly carrying migrant workers.

The crash was so severe that bodies were flung out of the bus upon impact, and the vehicle overturned. Videos circulating on social media show bodies lying on the ground amidst metal, glass, and other debris. "Today at around 5:15 am, a private bus coming from Motihari, Bihar, collided with a milk tanker. 18 people have lost their lives, and 19 others are injured in the accident," Gaurang Rathi, District Magistrate of Unnao, told NDTV.

Investigation Reveals Shocking Details

Initial police investigations have revealed that the bus is registered to a farmer in Mahoba district of Uttar Pradesh. It has also been discovered that the address listed in the documents is fake and that the bus lacks both a permit and insurance. This incident brings to mind a similar tragedy in 2018 when 27 people died in a bus fire while travelling from Muzaffarpur to Delhi; that bus was operating illegally on a tourist permit.

Two of the deceased have been identified as Rajnish Kumar (26) and Mohd Shamim (28), both from Bihar. The injured have been rushed to nearby hospitals, with three individuals reported to be in critical condition.

Outpouring of Support for Victims

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences on X (formerly Twitter), offering prayers for the departed souls and wishing for the speedy recovery of the injured. He also instructed district administration officials to expedite relief efforts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also posted his condolences on X, stating, "The road accident in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh is extremely painful. My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this. May God give them strength in this difficult time."

Prime Minister Modi announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs. 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for each deceased's next of kin and Rs. 50,000 for each injured person. President Droupadi Murmu, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed their condolences on X.

Akhilesh Yadav, Samajwadi Party President, criticised the BJP Government for its negligence regarding this incident. He raised questions about CCTV coverage of the area, absence of towing assistance for the allegedly parked milk tanker, and delays in ambulance services.

The police said that when they arrived at the scene, they found bodies scattered around due to the impact and saw that the bus had overturned. Videos shared online show bodies lying amid pieces of metal, glass shards, and other damaged personal items.

This tragic event underscores ongoing issues related to road safety regulations and enforcement in India. The lack of proper permits and insurance for commercial vehicles remains a significant concern that needs immediate attention from authorities.

The investigation continues as authorities seek to understand all factors contributing to this devastating accident.