Yamuna Expressway deaths: How ‘ab to main khul ke gaadi chalaunga’ mindset ignores every danger

Yamuna Expressway accident

At least 13 people lost their lives in a massive accident involving 15 vehicles on the Yamuna Expressway early Tuesday morning, police said. The crash took place before dawn when dense fog sharply reduced visibility, causing vehicles travelling at high speed to ram into each other.

The Yamuna Expressway, a high-speed road connecting Greater Noida and Agra, has witnessed serious accidents in the past as well. Nearly 11 months ago, on January 15, 2024, at least 40 people were injured when two buses travelling from Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh collided on the same expressway while heading towards Noida.

The expressway is a key route for commuters and travellers, offering access to several cities and towns through its interchanges and link roads.

These include Delhi, Noida, Faridabad, Gurugram, Mathura, Vrindavan, Aligarh, Hathras, Firozabad and Etawah. Due to its long stretches and high speed limits, the road sees heavy traffic, especially during early morning hours.

Following Tuesday’s deadly pile-up, Mathura District Magistrate Chandra Prakash Singh announced the formation of a committee to investigate the incident. The committee has been asked to submit its report within two days, The Indian Express reported.

Rakesh Kumar Singh, Chief Executive Officer of the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA), said that YEIDA’s General Manager (Project) will be part of the inquiry committee formed by the Mathura administration.

A senior YEIDA official said that the expressway is prone to dense fog because of open land and flowing water bodies located nearby. These conditions often lead to sudden drops in visibility, especially during winter months and early mornings.

“We also need to examine the condition of street lights, and the possibility of putting radium paint on the white-and-black vertical tracks on the Expressway, and installing cat’s eyes on the road,” he was quoted by The Indian Express as saying.

Road safety expert Prince Singhal, founder of Community Against Drunken Driving (CADD), said that while fog may have triggered the accident, high speeds played a major role. He said many drivers treat the expressway like a free zone where they can drive without restrictions.

“Ab to main khul ke gaadi chalaunga (I can drive freely now)… This is the attitude of many people traveling on the Yamuna Expressway. It is also one of the most important reasons for the occurrence of accidents,” he said.

Singhal also pointed to weak enforcement and lack of facilities along the route. He said there are very few police patrols, ambulances, emergency care centres or speed checks on the expressway. According to him, drivers often travel at speeds of up to 150 km per hour, which becomes extremely dangerous when visibility is low.