At least 18 people were killed and 19 others were injured after a double-decker bus rammed into a milk container on Agra Lucknow Motorway in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao on Wednesday.

Among those killed are 14 men, three women, and a 10-year-old boy. The bus was travelling from Sheohar in Bihar to Delhi. Bus driver Akhlaq (from Mumbai) and tanker driver Sunil Kumar (Rae Bareli) also died in the accident.

On becoming cognizant of the event, the police immediately reached the spot and launched rescue and relief work.

According to Unnao District Magistrate Gaurang Rathi, the accident took place at around 5:15 am, and an initial investigation revealed that the bus was overspeeding. 

“Today at around 05.15 AM, a private bus coming from Motihari, Bihar, collided with a milk tanker. 18 people have lost their lives, and 19 others were injured in the accident. After the initial investigation, it looks like the bus was overspeeding. The injured are getting treatment…,” Rathi said while speaking to journalists.

The exact reason for the incident is yet to be known, but the eyewitnesses say the bus carrying passengers was overspeeding.

Reaction of the politician 

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adtiyanath expressed his grief over the loss of lives and said that officials have been sent on the ground and relief operations are underway. 

Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said that about 20 people are safe and being sent to Delhi. Six people have been referred to the trauma centre, and the rest will be treated at the Hospital. ” We have adequate arrangements for treatment and we will take all necessary action as soon as possible…,” he said.