A major accident occurred early this morning on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway, where a massive pile-up involving eight vehicles left at least five people injured. The accident was triggered by extremely low visibility caused by a thick blanket of fog.
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The Incident: The pile-up happened around 7:30 AM near the Palwal-Nuh border section of the expressway. According to eyewitnesses and the highway patrol, the chain reaction started when a luxury car suddenly slowed down due to nearly zero visibility. Within seconds, seven other vehicles—including private cars and a light transport van—rammed into each other from behind.
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Casualties and Rescue: * Injuries: Five people sustained moderate to serious injuries. They were trapped in their mangled vehicles and had to be rescued by the police and local commuters using iron rods to pry open doors.
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Hospitalization: All injured parties were rushed to the nearby Civil Hospital. Doctors have reported that while two individuals have suffered fractures, they are all currently out of danger.
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Traffic Gridlock: The crash resulted in a total standstill on the expressway for over two hours. The wreckage of the eight cars blocked two lanes, forcing traffic to move in a single-file line on the shoulder. Crane services were deployed by the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) to clear the vehicles.
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Visibility Warning: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a “Yellow Alert” for fog in the region, but visibility on the high-speed corridor dropped significantly below 20 meters this morning.
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Police Advisory: The Highway Police have reiterated the importance of using hazard lights and maintaining a safe distance between vehicles during the winter season. “High-speed expressways like KMP become death traps in the fog if drivers do not strictly adhere to speed limits. We urge everyone to use the ‘two-second rule’ even in daylight during these months,” said a senior traffic official.
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Expressway Safety: Frequent travelers have raised concerns about the lack of sufficient fog lights and reflective markers on several stretches of the KMP, calling for immediate intervention from the NHAI and state authorities.
