A bus careered off one of India's busiest roads early Monday killing at least 29 people, police said.
The driver of the bus was suspected to have fallen asleep before the double-decker bus hit a divider and fell into a gap between two flyovers on the Yamuna expressway from Delhi to Agra, according to police.
Tragic news! My heart goes out to the family members & loved ones of those who lost their lives in the horrible bus accident. Prayers for the speedy recovery of those injured...https://t.co/VuLP7K4hF6
— Naveen Jindal (@MPNaveenJindal) July 8, 2019
The bus was taking about 50 people from New Delhi to Lucknow, in Uttar Pradesh state, when the accident happened at about 4:15am.
#UPDATE: At least 29 killed after a bus carrying around 50 passengers falls off bridge on Agra-Lucknow expressway; rescue operation underway. pic.twitter.com/cEWE0IaIiU
— DD India - English News (@DDIndiaLive) July 8, 2019
It fell more than 12 metres into a river below the road, crushing the top deck of the bus and water was complicating rescue efforts, police said.
"Twenty nine persons have died and 18 others are injured," said Agra district magistrate N.G. Ravi Kumar at the scene of the accident.
Another sad loss that was totally avoidable.
— mukesh vig (@vigmukesh) July 8, 2019
Most drivers on #YamunaExpressway think they're on No Speed Limit autobahn, and there seems no regulation either !
One careless driver takes several lives with him !https://t.co/KPHqm3Z77O
Bad #mondaythoughts
The 165-kilometre Yamuna expressway from Delhi to Agra is India's longest six-lane highway and about 900 people been killed on the road since it opened in 2012, according to authorities.
More than 150,000 people a year are killed on India's roads, which are notorious for poor infrastructure and speeding drivers.