In Brief
- Rahul Gandhi was completely unharmed, as his primary vehicle at the front of the motorcade was not directly impacted by the pile-up.
- The accident occurred around 10:15 a.m. near the 91-kilometer milestone when a lead private vehicle suddenly applied its brakes, causing five trailing vehicles—including an ambulance—to crash into one another.
- Gandhi was traveling from Lucknow to Sultanpur to appear before a special MP-MLA court in connection with a 2018 defamation case.
Chain-Reaction Pile-Up on Expressway
A multi-vehicle collision occurred on the Purvanchal Expressway on Monday morning, October 26, 2026, involving the rear escort section of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's convoy.
The incident took place around 10:15 a.m. near the 91-kilometer mark under the Haliyapur police station area as the motorcade was traveling from Lucknow Airport toward Sultanpur. According to local police, a private lead car belonging to party workers unexpectedly braked, causing a chain reaction among five trailing vehicles and an escort ambulance.
A few local party workers and security officers in the trailing cars sustained minor bumps and bruises, but no serious injuries were reported, and the damaged vehicles were quickly cleared.
Gandhi Continues Journey to Court Hearing
Rahul Gandhi was unhurt in the incident, as the primary bulletproof vehicle carrying him at the front of the motorcade was unaffected. The convoy resumed its journey shortly after the minor disruption.
The Congress leader had arrived at Lucknow's Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport earlier that morning. He was heading to Sultanpur to appear before a special MP-MLA court, which was scheduled to deliver a verdict on a 2018 defamation case related to remarks he made against Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
