A chilling winter morning turned into a scene of carnage on the Lucknow-Varanasi National Highway in Amethi district. In the early hours of Tuesday, a massive multi-vehicle collision claimed the lives of two people and left at least 16 others injured, some critically.
The Sequence of the Crash
The accident occurred around 2:00 AM near Mangalam School in the Musafirkhana police station area. According to police reports, the disaster was triggered by extremely low visibility due to a thick blanket of fog.
- Initial Impact: A truck traveling from Lucknow toward Sultanpur lost its way in the fog and crashed into the highway divider, overturning in the middle of the road.
- The Chain Reaction: Four other trucks following closely behind were unable to see the wreckage in time and rammed into each other, creating a massive pile-up.
- Public Transport Involvement: A Janrath bus (Hardoi depot) carrying several passengers slammed into the mangled trucks.
- Final Collision: A private car also became part of the wreckage after crashing into the rear of the bus.
STORY | UP: 2 killed, 16 injured as 6 vehicles collide due to fog in Amethi
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 23, 2025
Two people were killed and 16 others injured after six vehicles collided in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi district amid dense fog on Tuesday morning, police said.
READ: https://t.co/4GAAryQbyI https://t.co/pks1VQ6n5v
Casualties and Rescue Operations
The impact was so severe that several drivers were trapped inside their cabins.
- Fatalities: Two truck drivers died on the spot. One of the deceased has been identified as Mohammad Shamshad, a resident of Jais, while the identity of the second victim is still being verified.
- Injuries: 16 passengers from the Janrath bus sustained injuries. They were rushed to the Musafirkhana Community Health Center (CHC), with several being referred to the Sultanpur District Hospital for specialized care. Two individuals, identified as truck helpers (khalsis), remain in critical condition.
"The primary cause was the dense fog. A truck hit the railing/divider first, and then subsequent vehicles rammed into it one by one. Relief and rescue operations are complete, and we are working to clear the highway." — Atul Singh, Circle Officer.
Authorities Respond
High-ranking officials, including Additional Superintendent of Police Gyanendra Singh and SDM Abhinav Kanojia, reached the spot to oversee the rescue. Multiple JCBs and cranes were deployed to pull apart the mangled remains of the trucks and the bus to ensure no one else was trapped. Traffic on the busy Lucknow-Varanasi stretch was disrupted for several hours before being restored later in the morning.
