Mathura fog-triggered pile-up kills 13, injures 66 on Yamuna Expressway

Uttar Pradesh: At least 13 people were killed and 66 others injured after several vehicles collided and caught fire on the Yamuna Expressway in Mathura district early Tuesday, police said.

The massive accident occurred around 4 am on the Agra–Noida stretch of the expressway when dense fog severely reduced visibility, leading to a chain collision involving multiple buses and smaller vehicles.

According to officials, at least seven buses and several cars rammed into each other amid near-zero visibility. The impact of the collisions caused some vehicles to burst into flames, trapping passengers inside. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as fire spread rapidly, leaving several vehicles completely gutted.

Mathura Senior Superintendent of Police Shlok Kumar said that rescue operations were immediately launched after receiving information about the accident. “So far, 13 deaths have been confirmed and 66 people have sustained injuries. All the injured have been shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment,” he said, adding that several victims suffered burn injuries and fractures.

Fire and emergency services rushed to the spot and deployed 11 fire tenders to douse the flames and rescue those trapped inside the vehicles. Cranes were used to remove the burnt remains of buses and cars from the expressway, while ambulances ferried the injured to hospitals in Mathura and nearby districts.

Visuals from the accident site showed charred buses reduced to metal skeletons, with debris scattered across the highway. Due to the accident, traffic on the Agra–Noida stretch of the Yamuna Expressway was temporarily halted, and vehicles were diverted through alternative routes to ease congestion.

Authorities said stranded passengers were later transported to their destinations using government vehicles. The district administration also arranged temporary assistance for those affected by the disruption.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed deep grief over the loss of lives. In a post on X, he described the accident as “extremely tragic and heartbreaking” and extended condolences to the families of the deceased. He directed district officials to ensure proper medical treatment for the injured and wished them a speedy recovery.

The state government has announced an ex-gratia compensation of ₹2 lakh each to the families of those who lost their lives in the accident. Instructions have also been issued to provide the best possible medical care to the injured, district magistrate Chandra Prakash Singh said.

Officials noted that dense fog conditions have led to a spate of road accidents across Uttar Pradesh in recent days. On Monday alone, six accidents involving 31 vehicles were reported, while on Sunday, six accidents involving 29 vehicles claimed seven lives. Authorities have urged motorists to exercise caution, reduce speed, and avoid travel during low-visibility conditions to prevent such tragedies.

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