SUV Crash on Panipat–Khatima Highway Kills Six in UP
Collision near roadside eatery leaves six dead and one injured in Muzaffarnagar.
A horrific road accident near a roadside eatery on the Panipat-Khatima Highway claimed the lives of six individuals when their SUV collided with a stationary truck early Wednesday morning, police reported. The victims, en route from Faridpur in Haryana to Haridwar for a ritual immersion of a relative's ashes, included four women, a driver, and another male passenger, underscoring the perils of high-speed travel on India's congested national corridors during peak pilgrimage seasons.
The incident unfolded around 6 a.m. near Bhopa village in the Jansath area, approximately 120 km from New Delhi, when the speeding SUV—reportedly a Mahindra Scorpio—slammed into the rear of the parked truck, which was loaded with construction materials and halted for a brief stop. Circle Officer Rupali Rao confirmed that the force of the impact ejected several occupants, leading to instantaneous fatalities for five and critical injuries for the sixth.
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene with the vehicle mangled beyond recognition, prompting immediate rescue efforts by locals and police who used hydraulic cutters to extricate trapped individuals. The highway, a vital artery linking northern plains to Uttarakhand's spiritual hubs, sees heavy traffic from devotees, amplifying risks from fatigue and overloading.
Identified victims include Mohini (44), Anju (30), Vimmi (35), Rajender (50), driver Shiva (30), and Piyush (30), all hailing from Faridpur, Haryana. The group was part of an extended family undertaking the poignant journey to Haridwar, a sacred site on the Ganges revered for asthi visarjan ceremonies in Hindu tradition.
The sole survivor, whose identity remains undisclosed pending family consent, was rushed to a nearby trauma centre in Muzaffarnagar and is undergoing surgery for severe head and spinal injuries. Autopsies on the deceased are underway at the district hospital, with preliminary findings pointing to excessive speed and possible driver drowsiness as contributing factors—no alcohol involvement has been ruled out yet.
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This tragedy adds to Uttar Pradesh's alarming road fatality toll, which exceeded 22,000 in 2024 per National Crime Records Bureau statistics, with highways like the Panipat-Khatima accounting for over 20% due to poor lighting, erratic parking, and lax enforcement of speed limits. Authorities have impounded the vehicles for forensic scrutiny, and a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for rash driving has been registered against the truck driver, who fled the scene but is under pursuit.
In response, the state transport department announced enhanced patrolling and awareness drives along pilgrimage routes, urging motorists to adhere to fatigue management protocols amid the ongoing Navratri festivities drawing millions to the region.
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