By – Shubhendra Singh Rajawat
Hathras, Uttar Pradesh – In a tragic incident on the Mathura-Bareilly highway near Jaitpur village, a Tata Magic vehicle carrying over twice its capacity collided with a speeding canter truck, resulting in a devastating accident. The collision led to the death of seven individuals, including a three-and-a-half-month-old infant and three women, and left 14 others injured.
Overcrowding and Overspeeding Lead to Disaster
The ill-fated Tata Magic vehicle, designed to carry only eight passengers, was grossly overloaded with 21 individuals, including the driver. Eyewitnesses reported that the driver barely had space to sit, which compromised his ability to control the vehicle effectively. The vehicle was traveling at high speed when it attempted to swerve to avoid a pothole and collided head-on with a canter truck.
Both vehicles overturned due to the impact, leaving a scene of utter devastation. The Tata Magic’s wreckage and the victims’ belongings scattered across the highway painted a grim picture of the tragedy.
Victims and Casualties
District Magistrate Rahul Pandey confirmed that seven people died on the spot, including:
- Neelam Devi (50), wife of Ved Prakash, resident of Nagla Ojha.
- Prema Devi (60), wife of Garibdas, resident of Kumharai.
- Pushpa (25), wife of Guddu, resident of Kumharai.
- Ishu (3.5 months), son of Jagdish, resident of Kumharai.
- Manveer Yadav (50), son of Sunhari Lal, resident of Ratibhanpur.
- Kishanpal (38), son of Saudan Singh, resident of Rewari, Etah.
- Ramniwas (65), son of Gaya Prasad, resident of Sarai.
Injuries and Hospitalization
Fourteen people sustained injuries, with seven critically injured individuals being referred to higher medical facilities. Seven others are undergoing treatment at Bagla District Hospital. Among the injured are:
- Shivani (2.5 years), daughter of Jagdish.
- Rakhi (30), wife of Jagdish.
- Tikarama (50), resident of Kumharai.
- Nitya (6), daughter of Jagdish.
- Kumkum (17), daughter of Netram.
- Several others whose identities are yet to be confirmed.
Negligence and Oversight
Reports reveal that the Tata Magic was operating with a permit for only eight passengers. Despite multiple police checkpoints and RTO offices along the route, the gross overcrowding went unnoticed. The vehicle had been ferrying passengers since morning without being stopped. Locals expressed frustration at the lack of enforcement by the RTO and police, which could have averted the tragedy.
Residents noted that competitive driving among Tata Magic operators, who often race to pick up passengers, frequently leads to such accidents.
Family in Mourning
The accident has devastated the family of Guddu, a resident of Kumharai. In a cruel twist of fate, the family lost four members within four days. Earlier, Guddu’s relative Bhagwandas died when an electricity pole fell on him. Now, three more family members, including Guddu’s wife Pushpa, their infant son Ishu, and their relative Prema Devi, have perished in this accident.
Administrative Response
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences and announced financial assistance of ₹2 lakh for each deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. The state government has assured that the medical expenses of the injured will be covered.
DM Rahul Pandey stated, “The loss of lives is tragic. We will ensure strict action against the responsible parties and provide necessary support to the affected families.”
Public Reaction and Traffic Disruption
The accident caused a traffic jam on the Mathura-Bareilly highway, with vehicles halted for over 30 minutes as onlookers gathered to witness the tragic scene. Local residents and passersby aided in rescuing victims trapped in the wreckage and rushed them to the hospital in private vehicles.
Call for Accountability
This incident has sparked a conversation about the urgent need for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations, particularly for passenger vehicles. Locals have called for increased RTO vigilance to prevent overcrowding and overspeeding.
As the victims’ families mourn their loss, the tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by negligence and lax enforcement of traffic laws.