Dausa, Rajasthan: At least seven people were killed and 29 others injured in a devastating road accident on the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway early Wednesday morning, after a sleeper bus collided with a truck and burst into flames. The tragic incident occurred near Dhanawad Zero Point in the Kolwa police station area of Dausa district.
According to police officials, the bus was traveling from Rishikesh to Indore when it crashed into the rear of a truck at around 3:00 a.m. The impact was so severe that the front portion of the bus was completely crushed, and the vehicle caught fire within moments, trapping several passengers inside.
Authorities confirmed that five passengers were burned alive after becoming trapped inside the burning bus, while two others died from severe head injuries sustained in the collision. The horrific accident left the expressway strewn with debris, and emergency responders described the scene as one of the most severe road tragedies in the region.
Dausa Superintendent of Police Piyush Dixit visited the accident site and supervised the rescue operation. He stated that 29 passengers, including children, were injured and rushed to the Dausa District Hospital for treatment. Officials have already identified nine of the injured, while efforts are underway to establish the identities of the remaining victims and inform their families.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the bus driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel, causing the vehicle to ram into the truck traveling ahead. However, police emphasized that the exact cause of the accident will be determined after a detailed investigation.
The accident has also raised serious concerns about the emergency response system. Local residents alleged that although the accident was reported immediately to the police and expressway authorities, the fire brigade arrived nearly an hour later. Villagers claimed that a quicker response could have saved several passengers who remained trapped inside the burning bus.
Rescue teams eventually extinguished the fire and evacuated the injured. The bodies of the deceased have been shifted to the district hospital mortuary for post-mortem examinations, while medical treatment for the injured is continuing.
The district administration has launched a comprehensive investigation into the incident, including the circumstances leading to the collision and the alleged delay in emergency response.
Key Highlights
- Seven people lost their lives and 29 others were injured in the accident.
- The sleeper bus, traveling from Rishikesh to Indore, collided with a truck on the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway.
- Five victims died after being trapped in the fire, while two died from severe head injuries.
- The crash occurred near Dhanawad Zero Point in Dausa district at around 3:00 a.m.
- Children were among the injured, who are receiving treatment at Dausa District Hospital.
- Police suspect driver fatigue as the possible cause, though the investigation is ongoing.
- Local residents alleged that the fire brigade’s delayed arrival may have contributed to the high death toll.
- Authorities have launched a detailed investigation into both the accident and the emergency response.
