What was meant to be a night of celebration turned into an unspeakable tragedy in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district on July 4, when a speeding Bolero carrying members of a wedding procession crashed into the boundary wall of Janta Inter College, killing eight people on the spot, including the groom, a woman, and three children.
The incident occurred around 7:15 PM in Junawai town, on the Meerut-Badaun Highway, as the vehicle was en route from Hargovindpur village to Bilsi in Badaun district. The groom, Suraj Pal, and 11 others were travelling in the Bolero when the vehicle, reportedly moving at dangerously high speed, lost control and rammed headlong into a concrete wall.
Witnesses recount a gut-wrenching scene. Raju, a resident of Dhanipur village who was nearby, said, “The car was flying on the road. In seconds, it flipped and smashed into the wall. There was a loud explosion. When we ran to the scene, all we heard were screams, but we couldn’t get anyone out—the windows were jammed, and the vehicle was crushed.”
Desperate villagers rushed to call the police and emergency services. A JCB machine had to be called in to lift and tear open the twisted remains of the SUV to rescue survivors and retrieve bodies. The Bolero, designed to seat 7-8, was carrying 12 to 14 people, severely overcrowding the vehicle.
Among the eight dead were:
- Suraj Pal, the groom
- Sukhram’s son and daughter, children from Hargovindpur
- A woman relative of the groom
- Three other children, identities confirmed by families at the scene
At least five others are critically injured, including Deva, the groom’s uncle. They have been referred to a higher medical facility in Aligarh.
The bodies were sent for postmortem, and a case has been registered. The police have not ruled out driver negligence, citing excessive speed as the primary cause. Mechanical failure is also being investigated.
Sukhram, a labourer who works in Bhidwara, Rajasthan, had come to Sambhal with his family for his son Suraj Pal’s wedding. “We had just completed all the wedding preparations. After the rituals, we were supposed to return to Rajasthan. Now I’ve lost my son and daughter in the same accident. My family is destroyed,” he said, breaking down before reporters.
As soon as the tragedy was reported, SP Krishna Kumar Bishnoi and Additional SP Anukriti Sharma reached the site. ASP Sharma confirmed that “the car lost control and hit the wall at high speed. A JCB was used to rescue the injured. The deceased belonged to the same village. Preliminary investigation suggests rash driving as the cause.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over the tragic road accident in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district, which claimed eight lives, including that of a groom and three children.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, “Deeply saddened by the loss of lives in an accident in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in the mishap.”
He also announced financial assistance for the victims. An ex-gratia amount of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) will be provided to the next of kin of each deceased, while Rs 50,000 will be given to those injured in the accident.
Deeply saddened by the loss of lives in an accident in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in the mishap. May the injured recover soon.
An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured…
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 5, 2025
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took swift cognisance. A statement from the CM’s Office, posted on X, said:
“#UPCM @myogiadityanath has expressed deep condolences to the bereaved families and directed district officials to ensure proper medical treatment for the injured. He has instructed that a detailed investigation be conducted into the accident.”
#UPCM @myogiadityanath ने जनपद बांदा में आकाशीय बिजली गिरने से हुई जनहानि पर गहरा शोक व्यक्त किया है। उन्होंने दिवंगत की आत्मा की शांति की कामना करते हुए शोक संतप्त परिजनों के प्रति संवेदना व्यक्त की है।
मुख्यमंत्री जी ने दिवंगत के परिजनों को अनुमन्य राहत राशि तत्काल वितरित किए…
— CM Office, GoUP (@CMOfficeUP) July 5, 2025
The Meerut-Badaun Highway, particularly the stretch near Junawai, has seen multiple accidents due to reckless driving and poor regulation. Locals have repeatedly demanded speed breakers and increased police patrolling, especially during wedding seasons when late-night traffic increases.
The stretch where the accident occurred is sparsely populated, flanked by farmlands and the Janta Inter College campus. Villagers from Ghatsama, Junawai, and Dhanipur gathered in large numbers as word of the accident spread. They helped transport the injured, held back crowds, and assisted police in clearing the wreckage.
