Multiple Road Accidents Across Uttar Pradesh Leave 17 Dead and 55 Injured After Diwali

Overview

At least 17 people died and 55 others sustained injuries in six separate road accidents across Uttar Pradesh on Monday, November 9, 2026, just a day after Diwali celebrations. Several of these crashes occurred during the early morning hours, with authorities suspecting that reduced visibility from winter conditions and increased pollution may have played a role, though this has not been fully established.

Major Incidents

The deadliest crash took place in Muzaffarnagar on the Panipat-Khatima highway, where six young men from Hisar, Haryana, were burnt alive after their car hit a divider and an electric police pole, overturning and catching fire around 4.50 a.m. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took note of the incident, directing local officials to assist the victims' families. In Chitrakoot, four people including two children died and 12 were injured when a tractor-trolley carrying pilgrims from Madhya Pradesh lost its hook and overturned around 2.30 a.m. Meanwhile, on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway, three people were killed and 41 others injured when a private passenger bus travelling from Rajasthan to Bihar overturned into a roadside ditch between 6.00 and 6.30 a.m.

Additional Casualties and Official Actions

Additional road incidents claimed more lives across the state. In Shahjahanpur on the Ganga Expressway, a bus conductor and helper were run over and killed by an unidentified truck while inspecting their vehicle. In Lucknow, a 22-year-old two-wheeler rider died after being struck by an unidentified four-wheeler, and a 15-year-old boy was killed in Muzaffarnagar when his motorcycle was hit by a state transport bus. Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak later called for a coordinated policy to strictly enforce speed limits on state expressways, conduct driver counselling, and mandate pre-entry health checks to screen for intoxicating substances.

Context

Uttar Pradesh experiences heavy vehicle movement during festival periods like Diwali, which frequently leads to spikes in highway traffic and road incidents. Early morning travel during winter months also poses significant safety challenges due to fog, mist, and pollution lowering visibility across northern India's highways.