A tragic road accident on the Mathura-Bareilly National Highway in Uttar Pradesh's Kasganj district claimed the lives of two pilgrims from Rajasthan and left 36 others injured on Saturday after two state-run roadways buses collided head-on. The incident occurred near the district magistrate's office in the Soron Kotwali area and triggered a large-scale rescue operation involving local residents, police personnel, and emergency responders.
According to police officials, the collision involved a Rajasthan Roadways bus belonging to the Bharatpur depot and an Uttar Pradesh Roadways bus operated by the Etah depot. The impact of the crash was severe, causing significant damage to both vehicles and leaving dozens of passengers injured. The accident occurred while many of the passengers were travelling to Soron Shukar Kshetra, a prominent pilgrimage destination, where devotees had planned to take a holy dip in the Ganga.
Kasganj Superintendent of Police O. P. Singh stated that the two buses collided directly with each other, resulting in multiple casualties and injuries. Authorities rushed to the scene immediately after receiving information about the accident and began rescue efforts to assist passengers trapped inside the damaged vehicles.
Most of the people travelling in the buses were pilgrims heading towards Soron for religious purposes. The pilgrimage town attracts large numbers of devotees who visit the area to perform rituals and take part in religious activities associated with the sacred river. As a result, both buses were carrying a substantial number of passengers at the time of the collision.
The two victims who lost their lives in the accident were identified as 80-year-old Girraj and 65-year-old Pritam, both residents of Rajasthan. Girraj belonged to Farso village under the Bayana police station area of Bharatpur district, while Pritam was a resident of Seva Kurwariya village. Police officials confirmed that both men suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene before medical assistance could be provided.
In the aftermath of the collision, local residents joined police teams in a coordinated rescue operation. Together, they worked to remove injured passengers from the wreckage of the buses and provide immediate assistance. The operation continued for some time as rescuers carefully extracted victims and ensured that all passengers were accounted for.
The injured were initially taken to the Community Health Centre in Soron, where doctors provided emergency treatment and conducted preliminary medical examinations. Due to the number of casualties and the seriousness of some injuries, many of the victims were later shifted to the district hospital for further treatment and observation.
Among the injured passengers, two individuals were found to be in critical condition. Medical authorities subsequently referred them to a hospital in Aligarh, where they could receive specialised care and advanced treatment facilities not available locally. The condition of the remaining injured passengers is being monitored by healthcare professionals.
Police have launched an investigation to determine the exact circumstances that led to the accident. Preliminary findings suggest that the driver of the Rajasthan Roadways bus from the Bharatpur depot may have fallen asleep while driving, potentially causing the vehicle to drift into the path of the oncoming bus. However, officials have emphasised that this is only an initial assessment and that a detailed inquiry is still underway.
Investigators are examining all aspects of the incident, including the condition of the vehicles, road circumstances, driver behaviour, and witness statements. Authorities will also review any available evidence to establish whether fatigue, negligence, mechanical failure, or other factors contributed to the collision.
Following the accident, traffic movement on the Mathura-Bareilly National Highway was disrupted as rescue operations and vehicle removal efforts continued. Long queues of vehicles formed on both sides of the road while emergency teams worked at the site. Once the damaged buses were cleared and the injured transported to hospitals, normal traffic flow was gradually restored.
Police have sent the bodies of the deceased pilgrims for post-mortem examination as part of the legal procedures associated with the investigation. The reports are expected to provide additional details regarding the exact cause of death and support the ongoing inquiry.
The accident has left families and fellow pilgrims devastated, particularly because many passengers were travelling for a religious purpose when the tragedy occurred. The incident has once again drawn attention to concerns regarding road safety, driver fatigue, and the importance of strict adherence to safety measures on highways, especially during long-distance passenger transport operations. Authorities are expected to continue their investigation and release further findings once the probe is completed.
