Tragedy on Purvanchal Expressway: Father, Son Killed in High-Speed Crash
A Delhi family's trip to a wedding ends in tragedy on the Purvanchal Expressway. Two dead, three injured in a high-speed crash in Azamgarh.
A celebratory journey to a family wedding turned into a nightmare on Friday, October 16, 2026, when a horrific Purvanchal Expressway car accident claimed the lives of a father and son near Azamgarh. The crash, which occurred near Ohni village within the Tahbarpur police station limits, has left a Delhi-based family shattered and three others fighting for recovery.
A Journey Cut Short
The victims, residents of Haji Colony in Okhla, Jamia Nagar, Delhi, were traveling to their native Sultanpur village in the Ghosi area of Mau district. The family was traveling in a Maruti Ignis when the vehicle lost control at stone number 216.2, slamming violently into the expressway divider.
The impact proved fatal for 53-year-old Shadab Ahmed, a civil engineer, and his 83-year-old father, Khurshid Ahmed. Both died as a result of the collision.
Survivors in Critical Condition
Three other family members were inside the vehicle at the time of the crash. Shadab Ahmed's wife, Asma Bano (39), their 9-year-old son Amdan Ahmed, and their 15-year-old daughter Kulsum (also known as Myra) all sustained injuries.
The UPEIDA (Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority) rescue team rushed to the scene to provide initial medical aid. The survivors were first transported to the divisional hospital before being shifted to a private healthcare facility in Azamgarh for specialized treatment. Reports indicate that 15-year-old Kulsum remains in critical condition.
Conflicting Accounts: Nilgai or Over-Speeding?
In the aftermath of the tragedy, a dispute has emerged regarding what caused the vehicle to veer off course.
- The Family's Claim: Sajid, a cousin of the deceased Shadab, alleged that the driver attempted to swerve to avoid a nilgai (blue bull) that had wandered onto the road, leading to the crash.
- The Authority's Version: UPEIDA security officer Radheshyam firmly rejected the animal theory. After reviewing CCTV footage of the incident, Radheshyam stated that no animal was visible on the road. Instead, he claimed the car was traveling at a dangerous speed of approximately 140 kilometers per hour and suggested the driver likely fell asleep at the wheel.
Supporting this view, Tahbarpur station in-charge Aditya Kumar Singh identified driver fatigue and excessive speed as the primary reasons the driver lost control of the Maruti Ignis.
Safety Concerns and Administrative Crackdown
This accident comes at a time when UPEIDA is under intense scrutiny regarding safety on its expressways. The authority has recently taken stern disciplinary actions following other fatal incidents.
Recently, six security personnel were dismissed following a crash that resulted in the deaths of four cricketers from Deoria. Additionally, on October 13, 2026, Additional Chief Executive Officer Hari Pratap Shahi ordered the termination of Assistant Security Officer Ram Chandra Verma, who was stationed at Package-03, as part of an ongoing review of safety protocols across the expressway network.