Two killed including toddler after pickup truck crashes on Agra–Lucknow Expressway

A tragic road accident on the Agra–Lucknow Expressway claimed the lives of two people, including a three-year-old girl, after a pickup truck lost control and crashed into a divider in Uttar Pradesh. The accident took place on Tuesday morning near Gahar Purva village in the Bangarmau police station area of Unnao district.

According to police officials, the pickup truck was carrying several passengers when the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle. The truck rammed into the road divider and overturned on the highway. The impact of the crash was severe, causing panic among passengers travelling in the vehicle.

Soon after the accident, rescue teams rushed to the spot and started helping the injured. Police and highway authorities also reached the scene and arranged for the victims to be taken to the hospital.

Later, CCTV footage of the accident surfaced online. The video shows the pickup truck moving on the expressway before suddenly crashing into the divider and overturning.

Vehicle carrying 14 passengers

Police said the pickup truck was being used as a loader vehicle but was carrying passengers at the time of the accident. A total of 14 people, including women and children, were travelling in the vehicle.

The passengers were reportedly returning from Faridabad and were heading to Auras in Unnao district to celebrate the festival of Holi with their families.

The accident happened at around 9:30 in the morning when the vehicle was passing near Gahar Purva village. According to initial reports, the driver suddenly lost control of the pickup truck. The vehicle then crashed into the divider and overturned on the expressway.

Highway rescue teams quickly reached the location and began rescue operations. The injured passengers were taken to Bangarmau Hospital for treatment.

Doctors at the hospital later confirmed that the driver of the pickup truck and a three-year-old girl named Diksha had died in the accident. Diksha was the daughter of Monu, a resident of Arsena village under the Auras police station area.

Several other passengers suffered injuries in the crash. The injured include Monu, his wife Bitto, their daughter Vaishnavi, and others identified as Rohit, Bhupendra, Munshilal and Sonu.

Because of the seriousness of their injuries, some of the victims were referred to other hospitals for further medical treatment.

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Police investigation underway

After receiving information about the accident, Bangarmau police officials quickly arrived at the scene. Akhilesh Chand Pandey, the Kotwal of Bangarmau police station, visited the hospital and inspected the accident site.

Police officials also spoke to injured passengers and local witnesses to understand how the crash occurred. According to early reports, the driver who died in the accident was a resident of the Auras area.

He reportedly earned his living by driving his own vehicle in Faridabad. Most of the people travelling in the pickup truck were daily-wage labourers and small vendors who worked in the city and were returning to their village to celebrate the Holi festival.

Authorities said the passengers were travelling together to reach home before the festival. Unfortunately, the journey turned tragic due to the accident.

Police have started an investigation into the incident to determine the exact cause of the crash. Officials will examine factors such as vehicle condition, speed, and road safety compliance.

Overloading of vehicles is also being looked at as a possible reason for the accident. Pickup trucks are designed mainly for transporting goods, but in many cases they are used to carry passengers, which increases the risk of serious injuries during accidents.

Road accidents remain a major concern in India, especially on highways and expressways where vehicles travel at high speeds. Authorities regularly urge drivers to follow safety rules, avoid overloading vehicles, and maintain control while driving.

The tragic incident on the Agra–Lucknow Expressway once again highlights the dangers of unsafe travel practices. For the families involved, the journey that was meant to bring them home for a joyful festival ended in sorrow.

Local officials have assured that a full investigation will be conducted to determine responsibility and prevent similar accidents in the future. Meanwhile, authorities are continuing to monitor the condition of the injured victims receiving treatment in hospitals.