A bus full of passengers heading home for Chhath overturned on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway on Monday morning, leaving at least three people dead and more than 40 injured. By afternoon the accident had turned into a policy question: should every driver be tested before entering a Uttar Pradesh expressway?
What happened
According to Amar Ujala, the private bus was travelling from Bhiwadi in Rajasthan to Chhapra in Bihar. India TV News gives the starting point as Rewari. The bus overturned into a ditch about 40 feet deep near Zero Point in the Para police station area of Lucknow at around 6 to 6:30 am on 9 November 2026. India TV places the spot near the first toll plaza on the Lucknow side.
DCP West Jitendra Kumar Srivastava put the number of passengers at 52, as quoted by Amar Ujala; India TV says 50 to 60. The passengers had left on Sunday evening to reach home for Chhath, which begins on 13 November.
Casualties and rescue
Reports agree on at least three deaths. India TV says one person was brought dead to the KGMU Trauma Centre and two were declared dead at Lokbandhu Hospital. Amar Ujala adds that accounts of when each person died differ, and one of its reports mentions that two more passengers died during treatment, so the final toll should be confirmed with the administration.
On the injured, the figures vary. Amar Ujala's report says over 40, India TV and Navbharat Live say 45, and the English headline of Amar Ujala's report says 22. DCP Srivastava said 29 were taken to Lokbandhu Hospital and 13 to the medical college trauma centre; Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak said 31 and 13, according to India TV.
Police, NDRF or SDRF teams (the reports name one or the other) and the fire brigade worked for about 40 minutes to bring passengers out. A crane was needed to lift the bus out of the ditch. Police later moved luggage by tractor-trolley to Para police station.
What caused it
No official cause has been given. Amar Ujala reports that a burst rear tyre is the early suspicion, which is unconfirmed. Several passengers told the paper that the driver and conductor drank at stops between Rajasthan and Lucknow, that the driver was speeding, and that he argued when they objected. These are allegations from passengers. Neither report mentions an FIR, an arrest or the name of the bus operator.
The new expressway order
On Monday, Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Brajesh Pathak wrote to the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), the Transport Commissioner, the expressway authority chief and the managing director of UPSRTC, Amar Ujala reports. He asked that:
- a driver's health be checked before the vehicle enters an expressway, including whether he has consumed any intoxicating substance;
- speed limits be strictly enforced on all state expressways;
- drivers receive periodic counselling.
The departments have been told to frame a policy together. The report gives no date for when checks would begin, where tests would be done, who would conduct them or what penalty would apply. The Chief Minister, according to India TV, has taken cognisance and directed officials to speed up relief and contact the families.
What it means for travellers
Festival weeks put many long-distance private buses on the road, often on overnight runs. Until any checking system exists, passengers can only take basic precautions: wear seat belts where available, and if a driver seems intoxicated or is driving dangerously, call the UP Police emergency number 112.
What to watch next
The key things to watch are the official cause, a final casualty count, any action against the driver or operator, and whether the transport and home departments turn the Deputy CM's letters into a notified rule. We will update this report as the administration confirms details.
