Fog-hit expressway snuffs out five lives

In a fresh case, five persons including two General Managers, working with a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), were killed while nearly two-dozen others were injured in a pile-up of more than four dozen vehicles on Yamuna Expressway on Wednesday. Police blamed the mishap on zero visibility on account of dense fog on the carriageway. 

Wednesday’s tragedy was a grim reminder of the lack of preparedness of concerned authorities to ensure safety and security of commuters and their failure to arrange proper lighting during foggy conditions. 

A Deputy Commissioner (DC) posted at South MCD had lost his life a few weeks ago on the stretch following which the authorities had promised adequate measures to avoid freak accidents.

As per reports, the accident occurred around 9:30 am, 34-kilometre before the Jewar toll plaza when an Innova car ferrying senior officials of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) hit an stationary bus from behind.  Within seconds more than 50 vehicles piled-up in a series. The impact of the accident was so high that the occupants of the Innova- RN Sinha GM of BHEL, AK Das (DGM), Pradeep A and Sobhna A, Pinky A received multiple fractures as the vehicle was severely damaged. Other motorists, caught in the pile up also got injured.

Rescue teams of Jaypee authority, a company which ensures upkeep and maintenance of 165-kilometre long highway, along with local police reached the spot and victims were admitted in Kailash Hospital in Greater Noida. Critically injured GMs both residents of BHEL society of Noida’s Sector 17, succumbed to their injuries while three others lost their battle for life later in 

the evening. 

Condition of four others are stated to be critical and are recuperating in ICU. Meanwhile, the accident also led to traffic snarls on both sides. Traffic officials took two to three hours to take away the damaged vehicles and restore normal traffic. Police have registered an unnamed FIR.