Mumbai-Delhi Expressway Accidents: Dense Fog Causes Two Major Accidents, Several Injured

The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is currently facing a serious hazard due to continuous dense fog, leading to accidents and chaos. On Friday night, a bus carrying passengers collided with a trolley parked on the expressway near the Ujina toll plaza, according to Nav Bharat Times report. The collision resulted in the death of the bus driver and left around 35 passengers injured, five of whom are in critical condition. The fog is believed to have been the primary cause of the accident.

In a separate incident on Saturday morning, between seven to 10 vehicles travelling from Gurgaon to Alwar collided near Umri village in the Nagina police station area, as per the same report. The poor visibility due to the fog led to a chain reaction of collisions. Drivers were seen abandoning their vehicles and running to safety amidst the chaos. Thankfully, no injuries were reported in this incident.

Photo Credit: PTI

Details Of The Accidents

The first accident occurred around 9:30 pm on Friday night when a double-decker bus travelling from Jaipur to Delhi collided with an illegally parked trolley near the Ujina toll plaza. The bus driver, Subhash (26), a resident of Kotputli, died on the spot. Around 30 to 35 passengers were injured, and the injured were quickly transported to hospitals for treatment. The five critically injured passengers have been admitted to various hospitals.

The second accident took place at 9 am on Saturday near Umri village. Poor visibility due to fog led to a series of collisions involving 7 to 10 vehicles, including cars, trucks, trolleys, and containers. Despite the severity of the collisions, no injuries were reported. Local residents assisted the police in halting the vehicles 20 meters before the crash site, preventing further damage.

Triple Threat Of Fog, Cold, And Pollution

For the past two days, the region has been battling a triple threat of fog, cold weather, and increasing pollution levels. After a brief respite, the Air Quality Index (AQI) has begun to rise again. On Saturday, people were forced to drive with their vehicle lights on due to the thick fog. The cold weather was also intensified, with the minimum temperature recorded at 5.9 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 15.7 degrees Celsius. This comes after Friday's temperatures, which were 6.5 degrees Celsius and 13 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Despite the fog starting to clear by 10 am, the sky remained overcast with smog, reducing the sun's effectiveness. On Friday night, visibility was severely limited to just 10 meters, causing significant driving difficulties.

Chance Of Drizzle Today

There are forecasts for light drizzle across the district on Sunday. Dr Manjeet Singh from the Krishi Vigyan Kendra has predicted that the cold weather will intensify in the coming days, with the minimum temperature expected to rise and fog persisting in some areas.

Gurugram's AQI Hits Hazardous Levels

On Saturday, the AQI in Gurugram was recorded at 286, with areas like Gwal Pahari registering an alarming 379. Other areas, such as Teri Gram and Vikas Sadan, had AQI levels of 209 and 278, respectively. The lack of wind has caused dust particles to settle, exacerbating the pollution levels.

Gurugram Police Issues Safety Advisory

To help reduce accidents during the fog, Gurugram police have issued a safety advisory for drivers. Commissioner B. Satish Balan has outlined several guidelines for safe driving in these conditions:

1. Follow road markings and use the dividers on the right side.
2. Avoid parking vehicles in the middle of the road.
3. Do not overload vehicles or drive at high speeds.
4. Avoid using mobile phones while driving.
5. Take regular breaks and avoid driving for long stretches.
6. Always wear a seatbelt.
7. Apply radium stickers to vehicles for better visibility.
8. Maintain a safe distance from vehicles ahead, especially in foggy conditions.
9. Do not use high beams for headlights during fog.
10. Install fog lights in your vehicle.
11. Avoid traveling during foggy conditions if possible.

These measures are crucial in preventing accidents and ensuring safer travel during the foggy weather.