The first severe smog episode of the season turned treacherous for commuters on the NH-709 today. The lethal mix of winter fog and farm fire smoke created a “white-out” condition that caught drivers off-guard, leading to one of the largest pile-ups in the region this year.
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Chain Reaction: Eyewitnesses reported that the visibility was less than 5 meters when the accident occurred. A heavy trailer truck reportedly hit a stalled vehicle, and within seconds, nine other vehicles—including a Haryana Roadways bus and several private sedans—rammed into the pile.
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Rescue Operations: Local villagers from near Gohana were the first responders, pulling trapped passengers out of crushed vehicles before the police and ‘Dial 112’ teams arrived. “The sound of crashing metal was constant for nearly a minute. You couldn’t see the car in front of you even with hazard lights on,” said a local resident.
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Medical Emergency: Hospital authorities confirmed that while most injuries were fractures and lacerations, two individuals are in “critical but stable” condition. The police have urged citizens to avoid high-speed travel before 10:00 AM until the smog conditions improve.
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Environmental Context: This incident follows a week of deteriorating air quality in the Rohtak-Sonipat belt. The stagnant air has trapped pollutants from local industries and stubble burning, creating a persistent haze that is now posing a direct threat to road safety.
Community Sentiment
“We are literally driving into a wall of smoke every morning. The government talks about pollution in Delhi, but look at our highways. This accident was waiting to happen. The administration needs to install better fog-lights and reflective tape on this stretch,” said a frequent commuter who narrowly avoided the pile-up.
