Tragic Highway Crash in Mau: Family of Three Among Five Killed After SUV Collides with Trailer on Gorakhpur–Varanasi Road

A devastating road accident in Uttar Pradesh’s Mau district claimed five lives in the early hours of Saturday, leaving behind a story of celebration turned into unimaginable grief.

According to police officials, the victims were returning home after attending a wedding in Ranchi when tragedy struck.

Vinay Srivastava (60), a resident of Ranidiha in Gorakhpur district, had traveled with his family for his daughter’s wedding.

With the ceremony completed, Vinay, his wife Archana Srivastava (58), and their only son Kritarth Srivastava (27) began their journey back home in an SUV.

Two drivers, Purushottam (47) and Nitish (46), were also accompanying them. Even the family’s pet dog was part of the journey.

As the vehicle approached the Kusumha Basharatpur stretch on the Gorakhpur–Varanasi four-lane highway, fatigue is believed to have played a fatal role.

Police said that one of the drivers, Purushottam, reportedly dozed off at the wheel. In a matter of seconds, the SUV lost control, rammed into a road divider, and then veered into the opposite lane—directly into the path of an oncoming trailer.

The collision was catastrophic.

The front portion of the SUV was crushed beyond recognition, trapping everyone inside. The impact left no chance of survival.

Rescue efforts were long and painstaking. Ghosi Circle Officer Jitendra Singh and Station House Officer Sanjay Kumar Tripathi led the operation, alongside police and forensic teams.

It took nearly two and a half hours to cut through the mangled vehicle and recover the bodies. By around 5 a.m., all five victims had been extricated.

The deceased were later identified as Vinay Srivastava, his wife Archana, their son Kritarth, and the two drivers, Purushottam and Nitish.

Their bodies were sent to the District Hospital in Mau for post-mortem examination.

Authorities have informed the grieving families, who are now left to cope with the sudden and profound loss.

Meanwhile, both the SUV and the trailer have been cleared from the highway, and traffic movement has returned to normal.

What began as a journey home after a joyful family occasion ended in heartbreaking silence—an incident that once again highlights the dangers of fatigue while driving, especially on long highway routes.