Delhi-Agra Expressway accident: Toll rises to 13; bodies to be identified through DNA test

At least 13 people were confirmed dead after multiple vehicles, including seven buses and three cars, collided with each other and caught fire amid thick smog on the Delhi-Agra Expressway in Mathura in the wee hours of Tuesday.

Over three dozen people have been injured in the accident that took place at Milestone 127 under the Baldev Police Station jurisdiction around 4.30 am. According to officials, the visibility had sharply reduced as a thick layer of smog enveloped the area, leading to a multi-vehicle pile-up.

All 13 died of burns, said Baldev Police Station SHO Ranjana Sachan. Two of the deceased were identified as 44-year-old Akhilendra Pratap Yadav, a resident of Prayagraj, and 75-year-old Rampal, from Maharajganj district.

Mathura CMO Dr Radha Vallabh said medical teams have been deployed to identify the remaining dead bodies through DNA samples. He added that the post-mortem examinations are currently underway.

"All the bodies will be identified through DNA samples. The official 'panchnama' of bodies that have arrived here hasn't been done yet. We don't know how many bodies there are at this time," he added.

According to Mathura Senior Superintendent of Police Shlok Kumar, none of the injured were in critical condition. The passengers who got stuck at the accident site were sent to their destinations in government vehicles, he said.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described the incident as "extremely tragic and heart-rending" and extended his condolences to the families of the deceased. In a post on X, he said instructions had been given to the district administration officials for the proper treatment of the injured. 

The government has announced an immediate solatium of RS 2 lakh to the families of the deceased.