A deadly chain-reaction crash triggered by dense fog turned a stretch of the Yamuna Expressway into a scene of devastation early December 16 morning, killing at least four people and injuring around 25 others after multiple vehicles slammed into each other and burst into flames.
The horrific accident occurred near milestone 127 on the Agra–Noida carriageway of the Delhi–Agra Expressway, also known as the Yamuna Expressway. According to police, severely reduced visibility due to thick fog caused a massive pile-up involving seven to eight buses and three cars, leaving little time for drivers to react.
Multiple buses ablaze on the Delhi-Agra Expressway. Casualties reported. pic.twitter.com/yMB2JDMYSB
— Rahul Shivshankar (@RShivshankar) December 16, 2025
Within minutes of the collision, fire engulfed the vehicles, trapping passengers inside and triggering panic and chaos. Eyewitnesses recounted terrifying scenes as flames leapt from one vehicle to another, accompanied by desperate screams for help. The impact was so intense that several vehicles caught fire almost instantly, turning the expressway into a blazing corridor.
#WATCH | Mathura, UP: Several buses catch fire on the Delhi-Agra Expressway, also referred to as the Delhi-Agra Expressway, in Mathura.
Visuals from the spot. pic.twitter.com/rceaakYsyM
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2025
Superintendent of Police (Mathura) Shlok Kumar confirmed that low visibility was the primary cause of the crash.
“Due to dense fog, visibility was extremely poor. Seven buses and three cars collided, following which a fire broke out in all the vehicles. So far, four people have lost their lives and around 25 have been admitted to hospitals,” he said, adding that rescue operations were nearing completion.
#WATCH | Mathura, UP | SSP Mathura, Shlok Kumar says, "… An accident took place at the Yamuna Expressway Milestone 127. The reason was low visibility… 7 buses and 3 cars collided as a result of which, a fire broke out in all the vehicles… The rescue operation is nearing… https://t.co/fcMTyQjWBk pic.twitter.com/RY8vdxLqVi
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2025
District Magistrate Chandra Prakash Singh while speaking to the media, said the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took immediate cognisance of the incident and directed senior officials to rush to the spot to oversee rescue and relief operations. “On the Chief Minister’s instructions, we were dispatched to the site immediately to ensure prompt rescue efforts,” Singh said.
He added that the Chief Minister has ordered that all injured victims be provided the best possible medical treatment. An ex-gratia assistance of Rs 2 lakh each has also been announced for the families of those who lost their lives in the accident.
The DM further said the Chief Minister has issued directions to strictly enforce reduced speed limits during conditions of poor visibility to prevent similar accidents in the future. Authorities have been asked to ensure greater vigilance on expressways, especially during periods of dense fog.
#WATCH | Mathura, UP | DM Chandra Prakash Singh says, "A serious accident occurred at the 127-mile mark on Yamuna Expressway, where 5 buses and 2 cars collided and caught fire, resulting in 25 injuries and 4 deaths. The Chief Minister immediately took notice of the incident and… https://t.co/fcMTyQjWBk pic.twitter.com/aNeqSwpn2J
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2025
Rescue operations at the site have been completed, while an enquiry has been initiated to ascertain the exact circumstances leading to the crash.
Fire tenders, police teams and ambulances rushed to the scene shortly after the accident was reported. Firefighters battled the raging blaze while rescue personnel worked frantically to pull survivors from the charred wreckage. The injured were shifted to hospitals in Mathura and nearby districts. While officials said many are stable, several victims remain under close medical observation.
Traffic on the affected stretch of the expressway was brought to a complete halt for hours as emergency crews cleared burnt vehicles and debris. Authorities have launched an enquiry to reconstruct the sequence of events and assess whether speed, fog warnings or safety protocols were violated.
The accident came amid widespread dense fog and smog across Uttar Pradesh. Several cities, including Agra, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Mainpuri and Moradabad, reported sharply reduced visibility, forcing commuters to slow down and increasing the risk of road accidents.
In Agra, thick fog shrouded the city for hours, rendering the Taj Mahal invisible during the early morning. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), air quality across the region remained poor to severe, with Agra recording a “poor” AQI and Noida slipping into the “severe” category. Delhi also woke up to toxic smog, with dangerously low visibility reported across the national capital.
