Delhi-bound bus falls off Yamuna expressway into drain after driver dozes off, 29 killed

Lucknow: At least 29 people died and several got injured when an Awadh Depot Janrath bus, carrying 44 passengers from Lucknow to Anand Vihar (Delhi), fell off the Yamuna Expressway in Agra on early Monday morning. Primary reports suggest that the bus fell from a height of 50 feet into a nullah due to the driver’s fault as he was sleepy and lost control of the vehicle. Senior officials of the district administration have rushed to the spot and the rescue operation is underway. Divers and excavators have been brought in for the rescue of injured passengers. “It appears that the driver was sleepy while driving. Till now 29 people have been declared dead and a rescue operations is underway. The bus fell from 50 foot into a gorge (naala),” said NG Ravi Kumar, DM, Agra. “It is an unfortunate incident and efforts are on to rescue the survivors. Till now more than 29 dead bodies have recovered and the survivors have been sent to hospital for treatment,” Bablu Kumar, SSP Agra, told news18. The injured people told police that the bus hit the railing of the expressway and went straight into the gorge. The officials are trying to ascertain if the driver of the bus survived the accident. The Uttar Pradesh Roadways has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the families of the deceased. UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath has rush to the spot to monitor the rescue operation. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also condoled the death the passengers, saying, "Saddened to hear about the tragic loss of lives because of another bus accident, this time near Agra. My heartfelt condolences to the grieving families. I wish the injured a speedy recovery. Let us all follow #SafeDriveSaveLife." Source: News18