Tragic Tree Collapse Kills Five in Barabanki Bus Accident

On August 8, 2025, a tragic incident occurred in Barabanki, India, when a massive tree suddenly collapsed onto a UP roadways bus, resulting in the deaths of five people. The bus, carrying 60 passengers, was en route from the district headquarters to Haidargarh when the accident took place at around 10:40 AM.

Among the victims were two assistant development officers, Meena Srivastava and Juhi Saxena, as well as a schoolteacher, Shiksha Mehrotra. The other casualties included the bus driver, Santosh, and a passenger, Rakeebul Nisha, who was returning from a visit to a local shrine.

In a poignant scene, the lone injured survivor, Rama Devi, could be heard pleading with bystanders to help remove the heavy branches and free her from the crushed bus. "This is a matter of life and death... instead of making videos, help us remove the branches so we can get out," she implored. Locals later joined the rescue effort and helped pull Rama Devi to safety.

The authorities, including the Barabanki District Magistrate, Shashank Tripathi, and police officials, promptly responded to the incident and oversaw the relief operation. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for each victim's family, while the transport department provided an immediate relief of Rs 50,000 per family, with an additional Rs 7 lakh to be given from the Passenger Security Fund.

Following the tragedy, the authorities took measures to prevent similar accidents in the future. They pruned the overhanging branches of trees along the route to ensure the safety of commuters. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining infrastructure and addressing potential hazards to protect the lives of the public.