MIRZAPUR, Uttar Pradesh — A routine journey turned into a scene of unimaginable carnage on Wednesday night, April 22, 2026, as a massive multi-vehicle pileup on National Highway 135 claimed the lives of 11 people, including four women and three children. The disaster, which unfolded in the Dramandganj valley area, has left the region in shock and once again raised urgent questions about heavy vehicle safety on India’s steep highway passes.

The horror began around 8:30 p.m. local time, as vehicles were descending the treacherous slopes from the Dramandganj valley toward Lasoda. According to preliminary police investigations, heavy trailer carrying gravel from Madhya Pradesh suffered a catastrophic brake failure while navigating the incline.

Out of control and gaining momentum, the trailer slammed into the rear of a Swift Dzire car, pinning it against a truck traveling directly ahead. The car was crushed instantly between the two massive vehicles. Seconds later, a Bolero SUV carrying a family returning from a religious ceremony crashed into the wreckage. The impact was so violent that the Bolero erupted into flames almost immediately, trapping its occupants inside.

The human toll is particularly heart-rending. Nine of the victims were relatives from Naraina village in the Jigna area, who were returning home after attending a mundan (head-shaving) ceremony in Maihar, Madhya Pradesh.

"They were just a few hours from home," said a local resident who assisted in the initial rescue efforts. "The fire was so intense that despite everyone’s best efforts, we couldn't get close enough to save those trapped in the Bolero."

Rescue teams from the Drumandganj police station and local fire brigades fought through the night to extricate bodies from the mangled steel and charred remains. The accident caused a massive traffic jam on the Varanasi-Rewa Highway that stretched for several kilometers.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have both expressed their deep condolences. The Prime Minister’s Office has announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased and ₹50,000 for those injured.

Local advocates are pointing to the Dramandganj valley stretch as a recurring "death trap." The combination of steep gradients and heavy, often poorly maintained commercial vehicles creates a high-risk environment. This latest tragedy has sparked renewed calls for mandatory "runaway truck ramps" and more stringent brake inspections for vehicles entering the valley.