Lucknow bus accident: 7 dead, 45 injured as sleeper bus overturns on Purvanchal Expressway; driver was 'heavily drunk'

• Seven killed, 45 injured as sleeper bus overturns in Lucknow
• Bus was traveling from Ludhiana to Motihari with 80-85 passengers
• Driver allegedly intoxicated and ignored warnings before crash

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At least seven people were killed and 45 others injured after a sleeper bus overturned on the Purvanchal Expressway in Lucknow on Monday. The accident took place near Hasanapur in the Gosainganj area when the bus, travelling from Ludhiana to Motihari, allegedly lost control.

According to officials, 80-85 passengers were on board the bus, which was going from Ludhiana in Punjab to Motihari in Bihar, when the accident took place.

Police and rescue teams reached the spot soon after receiving information and began rescue operations. Several passengers were feared trapped inside the overturned bus, and cranes were brought in to lift the vehicle and pull people out.

Preliminary reports suggest that the driver may have dozed off, causing the bus to lose control and flip over. However, officials said the exact cause of the accident will be confirmed only after a detailed investigation.

Meanwhile, injured passengers alleged that the driver had stopped the bus at a roadside dhaba in Agra, where he consumed alcohol before having his meal. They claimed that after leaving Agra, the driver was driving recklessly. Several passengers allegedly objected and warned him, but he ignored their concerns. According to them, the driver appeared to be heavily intoxicated, dozed off at the wheel, and the bus overturned soon after, leading to the accident, Amar Ujala reported.

Eyewitnesses said the scene was chaotic, with injured passengers lying on the roadside and locals rushing to help even before emergency services arrived. Many survivors described the moment of the crash as terrifying.

Bijaya Rai, a passenger from Bihar who suffered injuries, said the impact was so intense that some people initially thought it was a natural disaster. “We thought it was an earthquake. The sound of metal crashing and bodies being thrown around was terrifying,” he said.

The injured were immediately taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Authorities said that the condition of some passengers remains critical.

The accident site saw heavy crowding as locals gathered, while officials worked to clear the wreckage and restore traffic on the expressway.