Four Killed as Car Collides With Canter, Catching Fire in UP
An accident on NH-34 in Aligarh kills four, including a woman and child.
A devastating collision between a car and a canter on National Highway-34 near Gopi Bridge in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, claimed the lives of four people, including a woman and a child, early Tuesday morning. The crash, which occurred around 6:00 a.m., sparked a fierce blaze that engulfed both vehicles, leaving the victims charred beyond recognition, according to police reports. The tragedy underscores the persistent dangers of high-speed travel on India’s highways, where accidents have surged in recent years.
Superintendent of Police (Rural) Amrit Jain stated that the car, travelling toward Aligarh, likely suffered a tyre burst, causing the driver to lose control. The vehicle breached the road divider and collided head-on with an oncoming canter, triggering the fire.
Four occupants died on the spot, and their identities remain unconfirmed as police work to contact families using vehicle records and other evidence. One survivor, critically injured, was rescued by a passerby and rushed to Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital.
Fire tenders swiftly contained the blaze, but the intensity of the fire complicated efforts to identify the victims. Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the accident, with initial findings pointing to the tyre burst and high speed as key factors.
The incident mirrors a similar tragedy on the same highway in August, where eight people died in a truck-tractor collision, highlighting ongoing safety concerns on National Highway-34.
Also Read: Delhi CM Leads Cleanliness Drive, Warns Against Property Defacement
Uttar Pradesh has seen a rise in fatal road accidents, with over 22,000 deaths reported in 2024, per state police data, often linked to speeding, poor road conditions, and vehicle maintenance issues. The Aligarh police have urged drivers to adhere to speed limits and ensure regular vehicle checks. Efforts to locate the centre driver and further probe the incident continue as the community mourns the loss of life in this horrific crash.
Also Read: Woman Stabbed to Death by Husband at Bus Stand over Suspected Infidelity
