Gonda, Uttar Pradesh: A devastating accident on the Gonda–Ayodhya highway claimed the lives of three members of a family and left two others critically injured on Sunday, after a car collided with an oncoming bus following a sudden tyre burst. The incident occurred near Anbhula turn in the Wazirganj area, leaving the local community and relatives of the victims in shock.

According to police reports, the family was returning to Ayodhya airport after attending a wedding in Gonda. Pramod Gupta, a resident of Awas Vikas Colony, said that his daughter Neha Gupta (28), son-in-law Akshat Agarwal (35), granddaughter Anaya (3), Akshat’s mother Neeta Agarwal (55), and a relative, Ashu Agarwal (34), had traveled from Bengaluru to Gonda to attend the wedding of Pramod’s son, Nitin, on December 4.

After the wedding, Nitin was driving the family back to the airport for their flight to Bengaluru. Eyewitnesses and police reports indicate that as the car approached Anbhula turn, one of its tyres suddenly burst, causing Nitin to lose control of the vehicle. The car then collided head-on with a Uttarakhand Transport Corporation bus traveling on the opposite lane.

The force of the collision was so severe that Akshat, Neeta, and Ashu died on the spot. Those seated in the rear of the car were thrown onto the road as the vehicle’s doors broke open upon impact. Fortunately, the deployment of dual airbags in the front seats saved Nitin and Neha from fatal injuries, though both sustained serious trauma and were referred to Lucknow Medical College for critical care. The three-year-old granddaughter, Anaya, escaped with minor injuries.

Dr. DN Singh, Chief Medical Superintendent of Gonda Medical College, confirmed that three victims were brought in dead, while the remaining two were admitted in critical condition. Police officials noted that a panchanama was completed and the bodies were kept in the mortuary before being handed over to the family for post-mortem procedures.

Family Background and Aftermath

The victims’ family hails originally from Kanpur’s Ganga Barrage area, though Akshat Agarwal had relocated to Bengaluru, where he worked as a clerk with Canara Bank. The sudden and tragic loss has left the family devastated.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed condolences to the bereaved family and directed local officials to ensure expedited relief measures. He also instructed that the injured receive proper medical care. Additional SP Radheshyam Rai stated that the authorities would coordinate closely with the family to provide support and ensure the timely handover of the deceased after formalities.

The accident serves as a grim reminder of the hazards of road travel, particularly on highways where tyre bursts or sudden mechanical failures can result in catastrophic outcomes. Authorities are expected to investigate further, including the condition of the vehicle and road safety measures in the area, to prevent similar tragedies in the future.