Bulandshahr van crash kills 5, including father-daughter, on Delhi-Badaun highway
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Five members of a family, including a father and his daughter, were killed on Friday, 16 October 2026, after a speeding Eeco van lost control and slammed into a roadside tree on the Delhi-Badaun highway near Ratanpur Khedia village in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh. Three other passengers sustained critical injuries in the crash, which occurred while the family was travelling for a religious pilgrimage.
How the Accident Unfolded
The van, carrying eight occupants, was travelling from Kasganj to the Sarvamangala Mata Temple in Belon village, Narora, when it veered off the highway at high speed and struck a tree head-on. The Public Relations Officer of Bulandshahr's Superintendent of Police confirmed to the media that all occupants were residents of Daheli Buzurg village. According to eyewitnesses, the vehicle was moving at an exceptionally high speed before it lost control.
The impact was severe enough to heavily damage the van, trapping several occupants inside the mangled wreckage. Local residents who gathered at the scene assisted police and rescue personnel in extracting the injured from the vehicle.
Rescue and Medical Response
Upon receiving the alert, police teams and rescue workers rushed to the spot on the Delhi-Badaun highway. With help from local bystanders, personnel freed the trapped occupants and transported them by ambulance to the Dibai Community Health Centre (CHC). Doctors at the facility declared five of the eight passengers dead. The bodies were subsequently sent for post-mortem examination.
The three surviving passengers, all critically injured, received initial treatment at the Dibai CHC before being referred to a higher-level medical facility for advanced care.
The Victims and Their Journey
All five deceased are reported to be from the same family — residents of Daheli Buzurg village in Kasganj. The group was undertaking a pilgrimage to the Sarvamangala Mata Temple when the accident occurred. Among the dead were a father and his daughter, according to preliminary accounts.
Notably, road accidents on highways in Uttar Pradesh during pilgrimage season are a recurring concern, with overcrowded and over-speeding vehicles frequently cited as contributing factors by state road safety authorities.
Investigation Under Way
Police have initiated an investigation into the precise cause of the crash. Preliminary findings indicate that over-speeding was the primary factor behind the loss of vehicle control. Further details are expected as the inquiry progresses.
The tragedy underscores persistent road safety gaps on national highway stretches passing through western Uttar Pradesh, where enforcement of speed limits remains a challenge.