india

Updated: Jul 08, 2019 13:40 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several Union ministers and political leaders on Monday condoled the death of 29 people, who were killed in a bus accident on the Yamuna Expressway near Uttar Pradesh’s Agra.

The accident occurred after a government-run AC bus from Lucknow to Delhi fell off the Yamuna Expressway into a drain near Agra on Monday morning. The dead include a one-and-a-half-year-old girl and 15-year-old girl as well as 27 men, officials have said.

“Pained by the bus accident in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. Condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. I pray that those injured recover fast. The State Government and local administration are providing all possible assistance to the affected,” Modi tweeted.

“Sad to learn about tragic bus accident on the Yamuna Expressway in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. State government taking all steps to help affected people. My condolences to bereaved families; wishing an early recovery to those injured,” the President tweeted.

Read: 29 killed as driver of Delhi-bound bus dozes off, drives off Yamuna Expressway

Several other Union ministers, including home minister Amit Shah and defence minister Rajnath Singh, also tweeted their condolence. Defence minister Singh, who is also the Lucknow, has spoken to chief minister Adityanath on the issue. He said in a tweet that his son and MLA from Noida Pankaj Singh and state’s BJP general secretary was also at the accident site.

“The accident on the Yamuna Expressway is very sad. I express my condolence to those who have lost their family members and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Shah tweeted in Hindi.

यमुना एक्सप्रेस वे, आगरा में हुयी सड़क दुर्घटना बहुत ही दुखद है।



इस दुर्घटना में दिवंगत हुए लोगों के परिजनों के प्रति अपनी गहरी संवेदना व्यक्त करता हूँ और घायलों के शीघ्र ही स्वस्थ होने की प्रार्थना करता हूँ। — Amit Shah (@AmitShah) July 8, 2019

BJP leader Vasundhara Raje, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati and Congress’ general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and senior leader Manish Tewari also tweeted their condolence.

“The road accident in Uttar Pradesh’s Agra is very sad and unfortunate. My condolences to the mourning families. I pray to god for peace to the souls of the departed, support to their families and speedy recovery for the injured,” Raje posted.

उत्तर प्रदेश के आगरा में हुई भीषण सड़क दुर्घटना बेहद दुःखद व दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण है। शोकाकुल परिजनों के प्रति मेरी गहरी संवेदनाएं। मेरी ईश्वर से प्रार्थना है कि वे दिवंगतों की आत्मा को शांति, शोक संतप्त परिजनों को संबल तथा घायलों को शीघ्र स्वास्थ्य लाभ प्रदान करें।

।।ॐ शांति।। — Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) July 8, 2019

आगरा के भीषण सड़क हादसे में 29 यात्रियों की मौत व अन्य 22 लोगों के घायल होने की खबर अति-दुःखद। पीड़ित परिवारों के प्रति गहरी संवेदना। सरकार उन्हें तत्काल उचित राहत व सहायता दे। इस प्रकार की लगातार हो रही घातक दुर्घटनाओं के प्रति सरकार को सतर्क होकर उचित कदम उठाने की सख्त जरूरत। — Mayawati (@Mayawati) July 8, 2019

“The news of the accident on the Yamuna Expressway is shocking. I am saddened by the pain of those families who have lost their loved ones. May God help them cope with sadness. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured in the accident,” Priyanka Gandhi wrote in Hindi.

“Deeply anguished by the news of the tragic bus accident on Yamuna Expressway. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families and wishing a speedy recovery for those injured!” Congress leader Manish Tewari tweeted.

Pained by the bus accident in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. Condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. I pray that those injured recover fast. The State Government and local administration are providing all possible assistance to the affected. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 8, 2019

According to Agra district magistrate NG Ravi Kumar, the accident took place at 4:30am when the Uttar Pradesh State Roadways Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) bus from Avadh depot in Lucknow was heading towards Delhi’s Anand Vihar depot.

Kumar said the bus driver probably fell asleep and lost control over the vehicle as it fell 30 feet into the Jharna Nullah between two roads near Etmadpur on the outskirts of Agra.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered a probe by the transport commissioner, divisional commissioner and Agra’s inspector general of police. They have been asked to investigate the accident in 24 hours and give a report on its cause, according to officials.