A devastating road accident on the Delhi-Lucknow National Highway (NH-9) in Uttar Pradesh's Hapur district claimed the lives of three people and left seven others seriously injured on Sunday evening. The crash occurred near Syana Chaupala under the Garhmukteshwar police station limits when a Scorpio SUV reportedly lost control while attempting to avoid a stray animal that suddenly appeared on the highway.
The impact triggered a chain-reaction collision involving multiple vehicles, causing severe damage and disrupting traffic for several hours. Emergency services, local residents and police personnel rushed to the accident site to rescue those trapped inside the mangled vehicles and shift the injured to nearby hospitals.
Scorpio Lost Control While Avoiding Animal
According to preliminary information released by the police, the Scorpio was travelling from Delhi towards Bijnor with passengers who were reportedly heading to attend a wedding. As the vehicle approached Syana Chaupala, a stray animal suddenly came onto the highway.
In an attempt to avoid hitting the animal, the driver swerved sharply. The SUV first struck the central divider before overturning and crossing into the opposite carriageway. Moments later, it collided head-on with an oncoming Maruti Ertiga. The force of the collision also affected other vehicles travelling behind, resulting in a major pile-up on the busy highway. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Three Occupants Die at the Scene
The collision proved fatal for three young men from Bijnor district, who died at the scene due to the severity of their injuries. Rescue personnel used specialized equipment to remove victims trapped inside the damaged vehicles before transporting them to the hospital.
Doctors later confirmed the deaths of the three victims, while the remaining injured passengers were admitted for emergency medical treatment. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Seven People Sustain Serious Injuries
Seven other occupants suffered serious injuries in the accident. After receiving initial treatment at nearby medical facilities, several of the injured were referred to higher medical centres for advanced care due to the seriousness of their condition.
Medical teams continued monitoring the injured late into the night as family members gathered at hospitals to obtain updates about their condition.
Police and Local Residents Launch Rescue Operation
Within minutes of the accident, police officials from Garhmukteshwar police station, highway patrol teams and local residents reached the scene. Rescue workers broke open damaged vehicle doors to free trapped passengers before ambulances transported the injured to hospitals.
Authorities also worked to remove the heavily damaged vehicles from the highway to restore traffic movement.
Traffic Disrupted for Several Hours
The multi-vehicle collision led to long traffic congestion on both sides of NH-9, one of northern India's busiest highways connecting Delhi with western Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Police diverted vehicles through alternate routes while cranes were brought in to clear the accident site. Traffic movement gradually resumed after emergency teams removed the damaged vehicles and cleaned debris from the roadway.
Investigation Underway
Police have initiated an investigation to determine the exact sequence of events leading to the accident. Officials are examining eyewitness accounts, vehicle damage and other available evidence as part of the inquiry.
Authorities have once again appealed to motorists to exercise caution while driving on highways, particularly during evening and night hours when stray animals may suddenly enter the roadway. Officials also stressed the importance of maintaining safe speeds to reduce the risk of serious accidents.
Road Safety Concerns Highlighted Again
The tragedy has once again drawn attention to the growing concern over stray animals on national highways. Road safety experts have repeatedly warned that animals wandering onto high-speed roads remain a major hazard for motorists, especially on heavily trafficked routes.
As investigations continue, the focus remains on supporting the injured victims and their families while authorities work to establish the complete circumstances surrounding one of the deadliest highway accidents reported in the region this week.