Bus and Milk Truck Collision in Northern India Kills 18, Injures Many

A double-decker passenger bus collided with a milk truck on an expressway in Uttar Pradesh, northern India, on Wednesday, resulting in at least 18 fatalities and numerous injuries, officials reported.

The bus was en route from Bihar to New Delhi when it struck the milk truck from behind, causing both vehicles to overturn. According to a preliminary investigation, the bus may have been speeding at the time of the collision, which was severe enough to tear off one side of the bus and eject passengers onto the road.

"Authorities are in the process of identifying the victims, and a probe has been launched to determine the exact cause of the accident," said police officer Arvind Kumar.

Nineteen injured individuals were transported to a hospital by local villagers, and their conditions were reported to be stable. Government official Gaurang Rathi confirmed the findings of the preliminary investigation and noted the extent of the collision's impact.

Images broadcast on television showed bodies scattered across the road, highlighting the tragic outcome of the crash.

India has one of the highest road death rates globally, with hundreds of thousands of fatalities and injuries each year due to factors like reckless driving, poorly maintained roads, and aging vehicles. This incident follows a similar tragedy in May, when a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims skidded and rolled into a gorge in Indian-controlled Kashmir, killing at least 21 people.