Dense fog across parts of northern India has resulted in multiple fatal road accidents, claiming the lives of eight people in separate incidents in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. The reduced visibility led to dangerous driving conditions, causing vehicles to collide and resulting in severe casualties.
In Punjab, five tourists from Banaskantha, Gujarat, including a woman constable of Gujarat Police, died in a car crash on the Bathinda-Bikaner National Highway. The accident occurred near Pathrala village in the Bathinda district early Saturday morning. According to police reports, the Gujarat-registered car rammed into a road divider due to dense fog, leading to the immediate death of all five occupants. The deceased have been identified as Arjun, Satish, Janak, Bharat, and Amita Baan, all between 25 and 30 years old. Authorities confirmed their identities using Aadhaar cards and other documents found at the scene. Superintendent of Police (SP) City Narinder Singh stated that the driver lost control of the vehicle because of the poor visibility caused by the dense fog. Preliminary investigations suggest the group was returning from a trip to Shimla and had stayed overnight in Bathinda. The families of the deceased have been informed, and police are continuing to investigate the incident. Visibility at the accident site was approximately 40 meters.
In Uttar Pradesh, three labourers lost their lives in a road accident due to dense fog. The incident occurred in Sultanpur, where a small truck carrying 14 labourers from Rae Bareli to Bihar was rear-ended by a truck on the Purvanchal Expressway late Friday night. The dense fog severely limited visibility, contributing to the collision. Three labourers died, and seven others sustained injuries. The truck driver fled the scene and is currently being sought by the police.
Across Uttar Pradesh, dense fog and near-zero visibility led to multiple road accidents across several districts. A major pile-up involving approximately 10 vehicles occurred on NH-2 near Saura village in Fatehpur, triggered by a pickup vehicle ramming into a stationary truck amidst thick fog. In Meerut, a car plunged into a drain due to poor visibility, resulting in the death of an 18-month-old child and serious injuries to other family members. In total, seven people died and 56 were injured in fog-related incidents in Uttar Pradesh.
Authorities have urged motorists to exercise extreme caution, reduce speed, maintain a safe distance, and use fog lights. The India Meteorological Department has warned that dense fog conditions are likely to persist in the coming days, especially during the early morning hours. They have issued advisories urging caution and advising against unnecessary travel.
