Ganga Expressway Horror: Overcrowded Bus Flips, 20+ Injured
Over 20 people injured as an overcrowded bus carrying migrant workers overturns on the Ganga Expressway in Sambhal. Read more about the crash.
A journey meant for festive celebrations turned into a nightmare in the early hours of Wednesday, October 28, 2026, when an overcrowded double-decker sleeper bus overturned on the Ganga Expressway bus accident site in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district, leaving more than 20 people injured.
Chaos in the Early Hours
The accident took place between 4:30 AM and 5:30 AM near the Pawansa area, specifically on the stretch between the Laharwan and Khirni toll plazas. The vehicle was packed with an estimated 150 to 200 passengers, primarily migrant workers and their families who were traveling home to Bihar to celebrate the upcoming Diwali and Chhath Puja festivals.
The bus had started its journey from Patiala, Punjab, and had passed through Ambala, Haryana, before meeting with the accident. The passengers were destined for various districts in Bihar, including Sitamarhi, Supaul, Darbhanga, and Purnia.
Rescue Operations and Medical Emergency
Emergency response teams, local police, and district administration rushed to the scene to launch a rescue operation. The situation was critical as many commuters, including women and children, were trapped inside the overturned vehicle. Rescuers had to break the emergency windows of the double-decker bus to pull the passengers out of the wreckage.
Rajendra Saini, the Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) at the Sambhal District Hospital, confirmed that over 20 injured individuals were rushed to the facility and admitted for emergency medical treatment.
Shocking Allegations Against the Driver
While the police worked to clear the wreckage from the highway to restore the flow of traffic, the survivors shared harrowing accounts of the moments leading up to the crash. Several passengers alleged that the driver had consumed alcohol at a roadside dhaba before taking the wheel.
According to the victims, the driver was operating the vehicle at high speeds and driving recklessly. Some passengers further suggested that the driver might have fallen asleep while driving, leading to the loss of control and the subsequent overturning of the bus.
Police Action and Investigation
The scale of the tragedy has highlighted a severe case of negligence. The police have officially registered a case to investigate the incident, focusing on two primary factors: the extreme overloading of the vehicle and the alleged negligent driving by the operator.