A double-decker bus ferrying pilgrims from holy sites met with disaster on the Agra Highway in Etawah, Uttar Pradesh. The early morning overturn near Jaswantnagar’s Malajani village due to heavy fog injured 10 out of 45 onboard, sparking a massive rescue effort.
Pilgrims returning from Char Dham and Barsana to Orai faced horror when fog engulfed the highway. The bus veered sharply, toppled with a deafening roar, and trapped passengers inside the twisted metal frame. Chaos reigned as screams pierced the misty air.
Nearby residents and motorists formed an impromptu rescue squad, extracting victims through broken glass and bent doors. Police cleared the jammed highway while ambulances ferried the hurt to Jaswantnagar’s community hospital for urgent care.
Medical assessments revealed eight minor cases and two more severe, yet all stabilized quickly. District head Shubhrant Kumar Shukla and police chief Brijesh Kumar Srivastava arrived to oversee operations, directing flawless medical attention and relief distribution.
SSP Srivastava attributed the crash squarely to zero-visibility fog during night hours. With the situation under control, emphasis shifts to prevention—perhaps enhanced fog lights or travel advisories. This close call highlights vulnerabilities in India’s pilgrimage routes amid winter hazards.