Senior Superintendent of Police Shlok Kumar on Tuesday confirmed details of a major road accident on the Delhi-Agra Expressway in Mathura, stating that search and rescue operations were in their final stages while authorities continued efforts to clear the highway and assist stranded passengers.
The accident occurred early Tuesday morning when dense fog drastically reduced visibility, triggering a massive multi-vehicle collision involving seven buses and three cars. Officials said at least four people were killed in the incident, while 25 others sustained injuries. The poor visibility led to vehicles ramming into each other in quick succession, resulting in a pile-up that caused panic among passengers.
Several vehicles reportedly caught fire following the collision, further complicating rescue efforts. Emergency responders worked amid challenging conditions as thick fog continued to blanket the stretch of the expressway. Visuals from the scene showed damaged buses and cars, some of them charred, while rescue personnel navigated through smoke and low visibility to reach those trapped.
Speaking to reporters at the site, SSP Shlok Kumar said the accident was a direct result of foggy conditions. “At least four people were killed and 25 others injured in a major road accident on the Yamuna Expressway in Mathura this Tuesday morning. The collision, involving seven buses and three cars, occurred due to dense fog,” he said.
The senior police official pointed out that fog remained heavy even hours after the crash. “As you can observe, it is still foggy here. Poor visibility caused multiple buses and small cars to collide. Some vehicles also caught fire following the impact,” Kumar added.
He said emergency response teams were dispatched immediately after authorities received information about the accident. Personnel from the fire department, local police units and the district administration rushed to the spot without delay. Their priority was to rescue injured passengers, douse the flames and secure the area to prevent further mishaps.
According to SSP Kumar, the rescue and search operation was nearly complete. “Based on the information available so far, four fatalities have been confirmed. Approximately 25 injured persons have been admitted to hospitals for treatment,” he said.
Providing details about the condition of those injured, the SSP said none were reported to be critically hurt. “All the injured are receiving medical attention. We are also making arrangements to transport other passengers from the site to their homes using government vehicles,” he added.
District Magistrate of Mathura, Chandra Prakash Singh, also visited the accident site and reviewed the relief measures. Describing the incident as “very unfortunate,” he said the administration’s immediate focus was on rescue operations and medical care, while the cause of the accident would be examined later.
“This is an extremely unfortunate incident. The bodies of the four people who lost their lives have been recovered,” Singh told reporters. He said a large-scale emergency response was launched soon after the crash, with more than 12 fire tenders and over 14 ambulances deployed at the site.
The injured were shifted to the Community Health Centre at Baldev and the District Hospital for treatment. Singh confirmed that all injured persons were out of danger and were being closely monitored by medical teams. “None of the injured are in serious condition. They are receiving the necessary treatment,” he said.
The District Magistrate also said arrangements were being made to move surviving passengers away from the accident site. “We are transporting passengers to hospitals and safer locations using buses. Relief work is progressing smoothly, and the entire government machinery responded immediately,” he added.
Singh highlighted that dense fog and extremely low visibility continued to pose challenges at the site. “As one can see, there is heavy fog here. The exact cause of the accident will be investigated later. For now, our priority is relief work and ensuring the best possible treatment for the injured,” he said.
The accident on the Yamuna Expressway came just a day after a similar fog-related crash on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. Early Monday morning, thick fog led to another deadly multi-vehicle collision involving around 20 vehicles.
That accident occurred at approximately 5 am and claimed the lives of four people, including two police personnel. An estimated 15 to 20 others were seriously injured in the incident. Authorities had attributed the crash primarily to extremely poor visibility caused by dense fog across the region.
With multiple fog-related accidents reported in recent days, officials have urged motorists to remain cautious during early morning hours, particularly on high-speed expressways. Drivers have been advised to reduce speed, maintain safe distances and use fog lights to avoid further tragedies amid prevailing winter conditions.