Garhwal Post Bureau
Haridwar, 29 Jun: Haridwar witnessed a tragic road accident in the Shyampur police station area late last night, when a head-on collision between a Roadways (UTC) bus of the Tanakpur depot and a pickup vehicle claimed three lives and left four others seriously injured. The accident occurred near the flyover late at night and was so severe that both vehicles were badly mangled, with the pickup virtually reduced to scrap and the bus sustaining heavy damage on the driver’s side.
According to the police, the Roadways bus was travelling from Najibabad towards Haridwar, while the pickup vehicle was on its way from Haridwar to Bijnor. As both vehicles approached a turn on the flyover, they collided head-on with tremendous force. Preliminary reports suggest that the bus rammed into the pickup, resulting in a devastating impact. The force of the collision was so intense that two passengers from the pickup fell off the flyover. Chaos and panic followed immediately after the crash, with loud cries for help and a long traffic jam developing on the highway.
There were ten persons travelling in the pickup at the time of the accident. Upon receiving information, the Shyampur police rushed to the spot and arranged for the injured to be sent to the District Hospital in Haridwar through 108 ambulance services. The police, with the help of a crane, removed the damaged vehicles from the road and restored traffic movement after considerable effort this morning.
During treatment at the district hospital, Ahan, aged 18, son of Sharafat and a resident of Badapur, Najibabad, succumbed to his injuries. Another unidentified man aged around 35 years also died. Sharafat, aged 42, and his wife Shabana, aged 35, who were critically injured, were referred to AIIMS Rishikesh. However, Shabana breathed her last on the way to the hospital. Other injured persons include Annu, aged 18, son of Mehndi Hasan; Soni Lal, aged 25, son of Ram Rahish and a resident of Hardoi; and Shamim, aged 42, son of Haseenuddin and a resident of Bijnor. They are presently undergoing treatment at the District Hospital, Haridwar.
In a particularly heartbreaking detail, it was stated that Ahan, who lost his life in the accident, was the only child of his parents. His parents, Sharafat and Shabana, were also among the injured, with Shabana also later succumbing to her injuries. The loss has left the family devastated.
This is the second major accident on the newly constructed flyover in the Shyampur area within a week.
It may be recalled that, just last week, an elderly couple and their five-year-old grandson were killed while returning home after closing their shop just near last night’s accident location. The locals have alleged that poor lighting on the flyover is contributing to frequent accidents in the area.
Circle Officer Avani Tiwari stated that the bodies of the deceased have been taken into custody and kept in the mortuary of the District Hospital for post-mortem examination. The families have been informed. The damaged vehicles were removed with the help of a Hydra machine and traffic has since been normalised. A detailed investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.
During the initial police inquiry, it came to light that the bus driver may have dozed off briefly, leading to the collision with the pickup on the flyover. SP Crime Nisha Yadav confirmed that the police reached the spot immediately after receiving information and ensured that the injured were rushed to hospital without delay. She added that the matter is being thoroughly investigated. She also appealed to the general public to drive carefully on the Haridwar–Najibabad highway, where construction work is underway at several locations, and to strictly follow traffic rules.
The deceased in the accident have been identified as Ahan, aged 18, son of Sharafat, resident of Badapur, Najibabad; Faheem, aged 35, son of Amanat; and Shabana, aged 35, wife of Sharafat, resident of Badapur, Najibabad. The injured include Sohne Lal, aged 25, son of Ram Rais, resident of Gram Reeth Mansingh, Hardoi; Sharafat, aged 42, son of Sarmad, resident of Badapur, Najibabad; Anu, aged 18, son of Mehndi Hasan, resident of Badapur, Najibabad; and Sameem, aged 42, son of Haseenuddin, resident of Bijnor.
Police have initiated a detailed probe into the circumstances leading to the accident. While speeding is being considered as a possible factor, investigators are examining all angles to ascertain the exact cause of the tragic mishap.
