LUCKNOW: A festive journey turned into a devastating tragedy after a vice-chairman of Noida-based IT-service provider Barclays Global Service Centre , his wife and their two young sons were killed when their SUV crashed into a road divider on the Ganga Expressway in Hardoi district on Wednesday.




The impact was so severe that the vehicle was dragged nearly 30 metres along the divider before being completely mangled. The couple's 18-month-old son was thrown nearly 20 feet off the expressway.




The deceased were identified as Saurabh Upadhyay (40), vice-chairman of a Noida-based IT company, his wife Menaka Upadhyay (35), and their sons Vyom (7) and Shivom (18 months). The family originally hailed from Prayagraj and was travelling from Noida to their native place to celebrate Bhai Dooj and Chhath with relatives.






The accident took place around 1pm near Bhatouli Mafi village, under the jurisdiction of Sandi police station in Hardoi district, at kilometre marker 317 of the Ganga Expressway, around 40km from the district headquarters.




According to eyewitnesses, the SUV suddenly went out of control and rammed into the central divider. Following the initial collision, the vehicle continued to skid along the divider for nearly 30 metres before coming to a halt. The impact ripped the vehicle apart, scattering its components across the expressway.




The youngest child, Shivom, was thrown nearly 20 feet below the highway, while the other occupants sustained fatal injuries.




3 died on the spot, infant succumbed during treatmentFollowing information about the accident, police teams from Sandi, Bilgram and Harpalpur police stations rushed to the spot. Saurabh, Menaka and their elder son, Vyom, had died on the spot, police said.




Rescue personnel retrieved their bodies from the wreckage, while the critically injured toddler was rushed to a nearby Community Health Centre (CHC). Doctors and medical staff attempted to revive him through cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but their efforts failed and he was declared dead.




The bodies were subsequently taken into custody for legal formalities and post-mortem examinations.




Family was heading to Prayagraj for festivitiesAccording to Saurabh's brother-in-law, Shishir Upadhyay, the family had left Noida on Wednesday morning for Prayagraj, where they were scheduled to celebrate Bhai Dooj and Chhath with relatives.




Saurabh originally hailed from the EWS residential colony in Neem Sarai, Mundera, Prayagraj. He was the only son of 65-year-old Jai Govind Upadhyay and had two younger sisters, both of whom are married.




Menaka originally hailed from Ghazipur, while her parental family currently resides in Lucknow's Gomti Nagar. She was the only daughter of her parents and had a younger brother.




The family had been looking forward to the festive celebrations when the accident cut short their journey.




Wife had left her job after younger son's birthSaurabh and Menaka got married in 2018. Menaka had also worked as a manager at a company in Noida but left her job in 2024, before the birth of their younger son, Shivom.




The couple was raising their two children in Noida.




The accident has left both sides of the family devastated, as all four members travelling in the SUV perished in the crash.




Police are examining the circumstances leading to the accident, including how the SUV went out of control and crashed into the divider. Further details about the cause of the accident are awaited.