On Sunday, August 18, 2024, an accident involving a pickup van and a bus on the Budaun-Meerut state highway in Bulandshahr district, Uttar Pradesh, India resulted in 11 fatalities and 26 injuries. The laborers, who were on their way home for the Raksha Bandhan festival, met with the accident in the Salempur area, about nine miles from the Bulandshahr district headquarters.
The victims, employees of the Britannia company, were traveling back to their native village in Aligarh. The deceased and injured included men, women, and children who had boarded the van from various points, including Dadri, with the anticipation of celebrating the festival with their families.
The District Magistrate, Chandra Prakash Singh, said, “Ten people were killed and 27 injured when a pickup van traveling from Ghaziabad to Sambhal collided with a private bus.” Another person later succumbed to their injuries. The impact of the collision was such that the van was severely damaged, and the bus sustained substantial damage to its front.
Emergency services were immediately dispatched to the scene, and the injured were transported to nearby hospitals in Bulandshahr, Meerut, and Aligarh.
Local villagers were quick to provide assistance at the crash site before the arrival of the police and emergency services. Social media was flooded with images and videos showing the extent of the damage, drawing attention to the region’s road safety issues. Bulandshahr SSP, Shlok Kumar, confirmed that all fatalities were men, while the injured included women and children. He further added that the injured are receiving the best care possible at the hospitals.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, expressed his condolences and instructed local officials to ensure the injured receive optimal medical treatment. Furthermore, the state government announced financial compensation for the victims’ families: ₹200,000 (approximately $2,700) for the bereaved families and ₹50,000 (around $675) for the injured.
Initial investigations show that both vehicles involved in the accident had valid fitness documents. Authorities are still investigating the precise cause of the collision, with local reports suggesting that the bus driver may have dozed off, causing the head-on collision. The investigation continues, with the promise of strict action against those found responsible.
The accident cast a somber tone over the Raksha Bandhan festival, traditionally a time of joyous family reunions and celebrations.
Raksha Bandhan, or Rakhi, is a traditional Hindu festival celebrated in India and other parts of South Asia. It marks the bond between brothers and sisters and usually falls on the full moon day of the Hindu lunar month of Shravana, generally in August.
During this festival, sisters tie a protective thread, or “rakhi,” around their brothers’ wrists, symbolizing their love and prayers for their brothers’ well-being. In return, the brothers pledge to protect their sisters throughout their lives. The ritual often includes the exchange of gifts and sweets and the performance of a traditional aarti (a ceremonial prayer involving a lighted lamp).
Raksha Bandhan underscores the importance of family ties and the mutual care and protection siblings offer each other. While traditionally celebrated between biological siblings, the festival has evolved to include close friends and extended family members, extending the spirit of love and protection beyond just the sibling relationship.
