Double-decker bus crash on UP expressway leaves 2 dead, 11 hurt

KANPUR: A high-speed double-decker bus travelling from Patna to Delhi rammed into a truck on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway in Kanpur district early Monday, leaving two passengers dead and 11 others injured, police said. The accident took place around 4.30am near the Araul toll plaza in Bilhaur area. According to police, the bus lost control and crashed into the rear of a truck travelling from Siliguri to Saharanpur. The collision was so severe that the truck overturned while the front portion of the bus was completely mangled. Several passengers got trapped inside the wreckage. Police teams and rescue personnel from the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority rushed to the spot and launched an immediate rescue operation. The injured passengers were pulled out and shifted to the nearest Community Health Centre. Three critically injured passengers — Neeraj, Babloo and Ritesh, all residents of Bihar — were referred to Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital for advanced treatment. Of them, Neeraj (30) and Babloo (32) died during treatment, said assistant commissioner of police Manjay Singh. ACP Manjay Singh and station house officer Janardan Singh Yadav supervised rescue operations and restoration of traffic movement on the expressway. Preliminary investigation suggests the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel. "Police probe suggests the bus was travelling at over 100 kilometres per hour at the time of the crash," ACP Manjay Singh said. Cranes and heavy machinery were later deployed to remove the damaged vehicles from the expressway, after which traffic movement was restored. Police said the bodies have been sent for post-mortem and further legal action will be taken after receiving a formal complaint.