NEW DELHI : The accident occurred on the Agra–Noida carriageway of the Yamuna Expressway in Uttar Pradesh, Superintendent of Police Shlok Kumar said. Poor visibility due to thick fog led to eight buses and three cars colliding in quick succession, setting off a blaze that rapidly engulfed the vehicles and left passengers with little time to react.

The impact was so severe that the vehicles caught fire almost instantly, trapping several occupants inside. Eyewitnesses reported scenes of panic as flames spread from one vehicle to another, with passengers attempting to escape amid thick smoke and fire.

Fire tenders, police teams and ambulances rushed to the spot shortly after the crash. Firefighters worked to douse the flames while rescue personnel pulled out survivors and shifted the injured to nearby hospitals. Around 25 people were admitted to hospitals in Mathura and neighbouring districts, with several reported to be in critical condition.

Traffic on the affected stretch of the expressway was halted for hours as emergency crews cleared debris and removed the damaged vehicles. Authorities have launched an enquiry to determine the exact sequence of events that led to the deadly pile-up amid heavy fog conditions.

The crash came as dense fog and smog blanketed large parts of Uttar Pradesh, sharply reducing visibility across several cities. Agra remained shrouded in thick fog, rendering the Taj Mahal invisible for hours, while similar conditions were reported in Varanasi, Prayagraj, Mainpuri and Moradabad.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board, air quality across the region remained poor to severe, with Agra recording a poor AQI, Noida slipping into the severe category, and Delhi also reporting severe air pollution, further worsening visibility.

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