New Delhi: Thick winter fog amid an intense cold wave led to a series of major road accidents across Haryana on Sunday, with dozens of vehicles crashing into each other on highways in Rohtak, Hisar, and Rewari. The incidents, caused by severely reduced visibility, left several people injured and brought traffic to a standstill for hours.
The most serious accident was reported from the Meham area of Rohtak district, where a chain collision involving nearly 35 to 40 vehicles unfolded at a busy highway intersection. According to preliminary reports, a collision between a truck and a car triggered a domino effect, with multiple trucks and other vehicles ploughing into each other in quick succession. Several drivers and passengers sustained injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals, while police and district administration officials launched rescue and clearance operations. Visuals from the site showed heavily mangled trucks and frantic efforts by locals and emergency responders to pull victims from damaged vehicles.
Another major pile-up occurred in Hisar district at Dhiktana Moda on National Highway 52 around 8 a.m. The accident began when a Kaithal roadways bus rammed into a dumper truck amid dense fog. A second state-run bus following closely behind collided moments later, setting off a chain reaction that involved a car and a motorcycle. While hundreds of passengers were caught in the chaos, officials said most escaped without serious injuries. The motorcyclist, however, sustained injuries and was admitted to a hospital for treatment.
In Rewari, poor visibility on National Highway 352 led to yet another accident, with three to four buses crashing into each other. Emergency services rushed the injured to nearby medical facilities, and traffic movement was temporarily disrupted as authorities worked to clear the damaged vehicles.
Haryana has been reeling under a severe cold wave over the past several days, with minimum temperatures hovering between 4 and 6 degrees Celsius across much of the state. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had earlier issued a cold wave alert, warning of dangerous driving conditions due to persistent fog.
The IMD has advised commuters to exercise extreme caution while travelling, urging motorists to use low-beam headlights, maintain safe distances, and avoid high speeds in fog-prone areas. Authorities have reiterated these advisories following Sunday’s accidents, stressing the need for heightened vigilance during the ongoing winter spell.