Driver dies after roadways bus crashes into his tractor on NH-9

Ghaziabad: A 30-year-old tractor driver was killed, and seven others — including the driver of a roadways bus — were injured when the bus rammed into the tractor from behind on NH-9 in Crossing Republik early Monday.According to Wave City ACP Priyashri Pal, the accident occurred around 4:30 am. The deceased was identified as Ajay Yadav, a resident of Lal Kuan.Preliminary investigation revealed that the driver of the Pilibhit depot bus, identified as Vipin Kumar (30), allegedly dozed off near Rahul Vihar, leading to the crash. Kumar sustained critical injuries and is currently undergoing treatment at GTB Hospital. Police have seized both the bus and the tractor.Officials said the impact of the collision was severe. The tractor rammed into the divider, its front axle broke, and Yadav was thrown nearly 20 feet off NH-9 onto the service road below. The tractor was carrying iron rods, some of which penetrated the bus during the crash.“Commuters alerted the police, and a team reached the spot promptly. The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital, where Yadav was declared dead on arrival. Initial findings suggest the bus was headed towards Delhi, and most passengers were asleep at the time. The driver was also drowsy and crashed into the tractor,” an officer said.In the aftermath, some passengers, angered by the incident, reportedly pelted stones at the bus and damaged its windows. Police said no formal complaint was filed in this regard so far.The injured passengers were identified as Ankit, 28, a resident of Gram Negpur Subhash Nagar Bareilly; Vikas, 18, a resident of Nawabganj Bareilly; Kamal, 25, of Gram Suchaiya Jhajhar Dewana Pithoragarh; Akhlaq Ahmad, 42, from Gram Duhai Tanda Bareilly; Ikram, 30, from Mayur Vihar Phase 3 Delhi; and Krishna Mandal, 35, from Bhura Colony Yora Husainpur Pilibhit.All of them were discharged after first aid treatment.