Delhi-Mumbai Expressway Bus Crash Probe Reveals Safety Lapses, Unclear Signboards

The probe has uncovered several key findings regarding the tragic road accident on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. Ten people were killed in the accident, including eight who died on the spot and two who died during treatment. 

A private sleeper bus traveling from Haridwar to Indore collided with a trailer between 2 and 3 a.m. on Wednesday, July 1, and then lost control and fell into a ditch, where a massive fire erupted in the rear portion of the bus.

According to witnesses, most of the passengers were fast asleep at the time of the accident. When the bus collided with the trailer, passengers sleeping on the upper berths were thrown off, leaving approximately 25 people seriously injured.

The district administration formed an eight member inquiry committee to investigate the accident. The committee's report revealed shocking facts.

District Collector Soumya Jha stated that the committee formed to investigate the incident, based on an inspection of the site, statements from passersby and the trailer driver, and CCTV footage, found that the expressway signboards were unclear, which may have been the primary cause of the accident. The signboards lacked directional arrows, causing drivers traveling toward Ajmer and Jaipur to become confused and suddenly reduce their speed, further increasing the risk of accidents.

The District Collector said that necessary improvements will now be made to the signboards on all major highways at the state level so that such accidents can be prevented in the future.

Key Findings of the Probe

The delay in the fire tenders responding to the accident was also a key issue in the investigation. According to the report, police and ambulances arrived at the scene within minutes, but the fire brigade took nearly half an hour to arrive. 

In light of this, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been advised to ensure the deployment of permanent fire tenders on major highways.

Inquiry Report Reveals Safety Gaps

The investigation also revealed some safety issues with the bus, including the lack of an emergency exit. Fatigue from long driving hours, illegal parking, and the presence of stray animals on the highway have also been cited as contributing factors to the accident. The role of cigarettes in the bus fire is also under investigation.

According to the District Collector, proposals have been submitted to the state government to provide financial assistance to the families of the victims. A district level task force has also been formed to strengthen road safety by conducting regular inspections on the highway.

The accident happened near the rest area located in the Kolwa police station area on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway near Dausa, Rajasthan.