Several casualties are feared after a major road accident on the Delhi–Agra Expressway in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura district during the early hours of Tuesday, December 16, following a collision triggered by dense fog. The incident occurred around 4 am when visibility on the high-speed corridor dropped sharply due to heavy fog, leading to multiple vehicles crashing into each other and catching fire.
Eyewitness accounts and visuals from the scene indicate that several vehicles, including passenger buses, were engulfed in flames shortly after the collision. A video recorded at the site showed intense fires consuming the damaged vehicles, with thick smoke rising into the fog-filled sky. The person filming the video could be heard stating that at least four buses were involved in the accident, raising concerns about the number of people who may have been trapped inside at the time.
According to a witness who was travelling in one of the buses, the accident took place while many passengers were asleep. He recalled that the bus was fully occupied, with all seats filled, and that the impact occurred suddenly. The witness said the collision happened around 4 am, catching passengers off guard and leaving little time to react before the vehicles were engulfed in flames.
Preliminary information suggests that the dense fog severely reduced visibility on the expressway, making it difficult for drivers to judge distances and speeds. This likely resulted in a chain reaction crash involving multiple vehicles. Fire spread rapidly after the collision, possibly due to fuel leakage, intensifying the severity of the incident and complicating rescue efforts.
Emergency services rushed to the spot soon after receiving information about the accident. Firefighters worked to douse the flames, while rescue teams began efforts to evacuate passengers and assess casualties. Due to the scale of the fire and the number of vehicles involved, operations continued for several hours. Authorities have not yet released an official confirmation on the number of injuries or fatalities, but officials indicated that casualties are feared given the circumstances.
Traffic on the Delhi–Agra Expressway was severely disrupted following the incident, with vehicles stranded for hours as emergency responders cleared the wreckage. Commuters were advised to avoid the stretch and use alternate routes until normal movement was restored. The accident once again highlighted the dangers of driving in foggy conditions, especially on high-speed expressways where sudden braking and reduced visibility can quickly lead to catastrophic outcomes.
Officials have initiated an investigation to determine the exact sequence of events and to assess whether additional safety measures are required during periods of low visibility. Further details are expected once authorities complete their assessment and verify the condition of those involved in the crash.
