A tragic road accident in Uttar Pradesh’s Mirzapur district claimed the lives of 11 people on Wednesday night after a chain collision involving two trucks and multiple vehicles. The crash happened when a truck reportedly suffered brake failure and rammed into vehicles ahead of it on a downhill stretch of the highway.
The incident took place around 8:30 pm near the base of the Dramdganj Valley, a stretch known for its steep descent. According to initial reports, the out-of-control truck hit another truck from behind, triggering a violent chain reaction that trapped a car between the two heavy vehicles. The impact was so severe that the car was crushed and caught fire.
Police and emergency teams reached the spot soon after receiving information about the accident. A large-scale rescue operation was launched immediately to clear the wreckage and assist any survivors. Traffic movement on the busy route was also disrupted as authorities worked to remove damaged vehicles from the road.
Officials said the accident occurred when a truck travelling downhill lost control, possibly due to brake failure. As it continued moving at high speed, it first collided with another truck ahead of it.
The force of the collision trapped a car between the two trucks, leaving no chance for escape. Another vehicle in the vicinity also caught fire after being hit during the crash. The situation quickly turned chaotic as flames and smoke engulfed parts of the accident site.
Mirzapur Superintendent of Police Aparna Rajat Kaushik confirmed the sequence of events and said that initial findings point towards brake failure as the likely cause. She added that investigation is ongoing and further legal action will be taken after a detailed review of the incident.
According to her statement, the vehicles involved included trucks registered in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, while the cars involved belonged to residents of Sonbhadra and Mirzapur districts.
After reaching the site, police teams worked with local rescue units to control the fire, clear debris, and recover bodies from the wreckage. The damaged vehicles had to be carefully removed to restore traffic on the highway.
Officials said that all necessary procedures are being followed, including identification of victims and investigation into the exact cause of the crash. The road was eventually cleared to allow movement, but authorities remained stationed in the area for several hours.
The accident has once again raised concerns about road safety on hilly and downhill stretches, where heavy vehicles often struggle with control issues, especially in the absence of proper maintenance.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over the loss of lives in the accident. He described the incident as extremely unfortunate and extended condolences to the families of the victims.
The Prime Minister also announced financial assistance for those affected. He declared an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh each for the families of those who lost their lives and ₹50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
His message was shared through the Prime Minister’s Office on social media platform X, where he also wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.
This tragic accident has once again highlighted the dangers of highway travel, especially involving heavy vehicles on steep routes. Brake failure, overloading, and lack of regular vehicle maintenance are often cited as major risk factors in such incidents.
Authorities are expected to review safety measures on this stretch of highway, including better monitoring of heavy vehicle movement and stricter enforcement of safety checks.
For now, the focus remains on supporting the families of the victims and completing the investigation into what led to one of the deadliest accidents in the region in recent times.
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