Four Pilgrims Killed as Bus Overturns on Eastern Peripheral Expressway in Baghpat, UP, After Hitting Divider

Four people were killed and several others injured when a bus carrying 32 pilgrims from Rajasthan to Badaun overturned after hitting a divider on the Eastern Peripheral Expressway near the Badagaon cut in Baghpat district, Uttar Pradesh, in the early hours of Monday, September 7. Baghpat Superintendent of Police Suraj Kumar Rai confirmed that police received information through the 112 emergency service at around 12:30 AM, with four Police Response Vehicle units, ambulances, and local police immediately responding to the scene. The injured passengers were rescued and taken to the Community Health Centre in Khekra and Baghpat district hospital for treatment, with those in critical condition referred to higher medical centers. District Magistrate Asmita Lal confirmed the four deaths and stated that all victims had been brought to nearby medical facilities. The accident underscores persistent road-safety challenges on India's expressways, particularly for long-distance passenger transport. The Eastern Peripheral Expressway, inaugurated in 2018, is a 135-kilometer access-controlled route connecting Kundli, Ghaziabad, and Palwal to bypass Delhi. While it has reduced transit times, incidents like this highlight vulnerabilities when vehicles carrying large numbers of passengers travel at night on high-speed corridors. The investigation will likely examine driver fatigue, vehicle maintenance, and whether the bus was operating with proper permits for interstate pilgrim transport.