Dense fog transformed an ordinary early-morning journey into a deadly disaster on the Delhi–Agra Expressway near Mathura’s 127th milestone, where seven buses and three cars collided in a massive chain reaction, killing four people and injuring 25 others. The accident occurred around 4 a.m. on Tuesday when visibility on the Yamuna Expressway’s Agra–Noida stretch dropped to almost zero due to heavy fog. Cars were the first to crash, followed by buses ploughing into the wreckage, triggering fires that trapped passengers and spread panic at the scene.

Emergency services responded swiftly, with more than a dozen fire tenders and 14 ambulances deployed to extinguish the flames and transport the injured to CHC Baldev and the district hospital. Mathura SSP Shlok Kumar confirmed that rescue operations were completed quickly and that none of the injured were in critical condition. Authorities also arranged alternative transport for stranded passengers as police and local officials worked to clear debris and restore traffic after several hours of disruption. District Magistrate Chandra Prakash Singh described the incident as tragic but credited the coordinated response for preventing a higher death toll.

The crash once again highlights the dangers posed by dense winter fog on northern India’s highways, particularly on busy routes like the 165-kilometre expressway connecting Delhi and Agra. Similar accidents in recent years underline the recurring risk. Safety experts urge drivers to reduce speed significantly in low visibility, rely on fog lights rather than high beams, and follow lane-edge markings to maintain orientation. The incident has renewed calls for improved fog-detection systems, stricter speed enforcement, and wider use of real-time navigation alerts to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Deccan Herald.