Published on: October 18, 2025 | 6:41 PM IST

At least seven people were killed and more than a dozen others were injured in a series of tragic road accidents that occurred across different parts of Uttar Pradesh on Friday night and Saturday morning. The incidents, reported from Bareilly, Amethi, and Etah districts, have once again brought the spotlight on the recurring issue of road safety in the state, where speeding and reckless driving continue to claim numerous lives each year.

The most severe of the accidents took place in Bareilly in the early hours of Saturday. According to police, a van and a bus collided head-on near Barheypura village on the Bareilly–Bisalpur Road under the jurisdiction of Bhuta police station at around 1:30 am. The impact of the collision was so intense that the front portion of the van was completely crushed, trapping several passengers inside. Police and fire personnel immediately rushed to the scene and carried out a rescue operation that lasted several hours. Using hydraulic cutters, they managed to extract the trapped passengers from the mangled remains of the vehicle.

Three people were killed on the spot and ten others sustained injuries in the accident. The deceased were identified as Rakesh, the 35-year-old driver of the van, along with Gaurav, aged 19, and Jitendra, aged 20. Bareilly Superintendent of Police (South) Anshika Verma confirmed the fatalities and said that all the passengers were reportedly on their way home to celebrate Diwali with their families. Preliminary investigations suggest that the van driver was attempting to overtake another vehicle when the collision occurred, resulting in the fatal crash. Police officials have indicated that speeding and rash driving were the primary causes behind the accident. Four of the injured passengers are said to be in critical condition and are receiving treatment at a local hospital, while others are recovering from non-life-threatening injuries.

The second major incident occurred later in the morning in Amethi district. Two young men, identified as Deepak Kumar, 20, and Devendra Kumar, 22, lost their lives when their motorcycle was hit by a speeding truck near Chaheti Nagar on the Lucknow–Varanasi Highway in the Jagdishpur area. Station House Officer (SHO) Dhirendra Yadav said that both victims died on the spot due to the severe impact of the collision. Police have since seized the truck involved in the incident, and the driver is being questioned as part of the investigation. The bodies of the deceased have been sent for post-mortem examinations at the district hospital. Initial reports indicate that the truck was travelling at high speed when it rammed into the motorcycle, leaving no time for the victims to react. The tragic accident caused significant traffic disruption along the busy highway for nearly an hour before police cleared the site.

In another series of fatal road mishaps, two people were killed and four others sustained serious injuries in separate motorcycle collisions in Etah district on Friday night. The first of these occurred near Bahgo village in Jaithra area, where two speeding motorcycles collided head-on. The collision resulted in the death of 70-year-old Shyamveer, who was riding one of the motorcycles, while his grandson Himanshu and two others were critically injured. According to local residents, both motorcycles were travelling at high speeds and failed to notice each other due to poor visibility on the narrow road. Passersby immediately informed the police, and the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital where they are currently undergoing treatment.

In a separate incident reported from the same district later that night, a 16-year-old boy named Satyam died after his motorcycle crashed with another vehicle while he was heading towards a petrol pump. Eyewitnesses said the teenager was driving at a considerable speed when his bike collided head-on with another motorcycle approaching from the opposite direction. Both riders were thrown off their vehicles due to the impact. Police officials said Satyam succumbed to his injuries on the spot, while the other motorcyclist was admitted to the hospital in critical condition. Cases have been registered in both Etah incidents, and police have sent the bodies for post-mortem examinations.

The series of accidents across the state has once again raised serious concerns over traffic discipline, overspeeding, and lack of adherence to road safety regulations. Authorities have repeatedly appealed to motorists to drive cautiously, especially during the festive season, when traffic volume and travel frequency increase significantly. Bareilly SP Anshika Verma emphasised that reckless driving and overtaking on narrow or poorly lit roads continue to be the leading causes of road fatalities in the region. She added that police patrols have been intensified in accident-prone areas, and awareness drives are being organised to educate motorists about safe driving practices.

In the aftermath of the incidents, local authorities have urged drivers to exercise caution while travelling long distances for Diwali and to avoid driving under fatigue or in unsafe conditions. Meanwhile, families of the victims in Bareilly, Amethi, and Etah have been left devastated by the sudden loss of their loved ones, casting a shadow of grief just days before the festival. Police investigations into all the accidents are ongoing, and reports from forensic and traffic analysis teams are expected soon.

The latest tragedies highlight the urgent need for stricter enforcement of road safety laws, better highway infrastructure, and increased public awareness to curb the rising number of accidents on Uttar Pradesh’s roads.