Overcrowded Bus Flips on Ganga Expressway: 20+ Injured in Sambhal Horror
A double-decker sleeper bus carrying nearly 200 passengers overturned on the Ganga Expressway in Sambhal, leaving over 20 injured.
A journey home for the festive season turned into a nightmare in the early hours of Wednesday when an overcrowded double-decker sleeper bus overturned on the Ganga Expressway bus accident site in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district. The vehicle, which was transporting migrant workers and their families from Punjab and Haryana to Bihar, was carrying between 150 to 200 passengers—vastly exceeding its legal capacity.
Chaos on the Highway
The accident occurred between 4:30 AM and 5:30 AM, catching passengers off guard as they slept. According to eyewitnesses and survivors, the bus was traveling at a high speed when the driver lost control. The vehicle reportedly swayed violently several times before skidding off the tarmac and flipping onto its side in the soft soil by the roadside.
The scene was one of utter chaos, with passengers—including women, children, and the elderly—pinned under the wreckage. Rescue operations were intensified as emergency response teams and local administration arrived, with rescuers forced to smash emergency windows to pull the trapped commuters out of the overturned sleeper bus.
Allegations of Negligence and Overloading
Survivors have pointed toward severe negligence as the cause of the crash. Mukesh Kumar, a passenger from Supaul who had boarded the bus in Ambala, described the vehicle as being "packed like a train compartment." He recalled the bus wobbling three times before the final crash, noting that if the bus had fallen into a water body, the casualties would have been far higher.
Another passenger, Farzana Parveen, who was traveling to Darbhanga, leveled serious allegations against the driver. She claimed that the driver had consumed alcohol at a roadside dhaba and was driving recklessly before the bus overturned with a "deafening thud."
Medical Response and Police Action
The injured were rushed via ambulances to the Sambhal District Hospital. Dr. Rajendra Saini, the Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS), confirmed that over 20 individuals have been admitted. He stated that the medical staff were put on high alert, and adequate doctors and supplies were deployed to ensure all victims receive continuous observation and emergency care.
Investigation Underway
The bus was carrying passengers heading to various Bihar districts, including:
- Purnia
- Darbhanga
- Supaul
- Sitamarhi
The passengers were traveling home to celebrate the upcoming Diwali and Chhath Puja festivals. Police have since cleared the wreckage from the Ganga Expressway to restore the flow of traffic. A formal case has been registered to investigate the allegations of overloading and the driver's potential intoxication and negligence.