GORAKHPUR, Sept. 20 -- In a major road accident on Friday morning, three Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) buses collided near Agya Bridge under Bhitouli police station limits in Maharajganj district, leaving 40 passengers injured, including 15 in critical condition. According to police, two buses-one traveling from Maharajganj to Gorakhpur and the other from Gorakhpur to Maharajganj-collided head-on around 7:35 am. A third bus coming from behind rammed into the vehicles, worsening the situation. The impact of the collision was so severe that two buses were heavily damaged and chaos erupted at the site. District magistrate Santosh Verma rushed to the trauma centre at the district hospital and confirmed that five teams of doctors are treating the injured. "Preliminary investigations suggest that over-speeding and an attempt to overtake led to the accident. Traffic on the highway was disrupted for a short time but has now been restored," he said. Police station in-charge Sadanand reported that a total of 97 passengers were traveling in the buses. Local residents and police launched a prompt rescue operation, shifting the injured to the district hospital. Those critically injured are being referred to higher medical centers. The drivers of two buses sustained serious head injuries. Following the incident, angry villagers staged a brief protest on the National Highway over the delayed arrival of ambulances. Police personnel, however, pacified the protesters and cleared road for traffic. htc...