Chhath trip turns tragic: XUV300 engine flies out, toddler thrown 20 feet; how Barclays VP's family of 4 died in Ganga Expressway crash

A family travelling from Noida to Prayagraj to celebrate Chhath and Bhai Dooj met with a devastating end after their SUV crashed into a divider on the Ganga Expressway in Uttar Pradesh's Hardoi district on Wednesday. A senior Barclays executive, his wife and their two young sons died in the accident, a TOI report stated. As per Police statement, the collision was so severe that the family's Mahindra XUV300 was left completely mangled. The vehicle reportedly scraped along the central divider for nearly 30 metres, with its engine being thrown out in the impact. Their 18-month-old younger son was flung nearly 20 feet away from the expressway. The deceased have been identified as Saurabh Upadhyay (40), his wife Menaka Upadhyay (35), and their sons Vyom (7) and Shivom (18 months). Saurabh worked as an assistant vice-president in the transformation division of Barclays, a multinational banking company. His wife Menaka had previously worked as a manager at a Noida-based company.

How Ganga Expressway happened?

The accident occurred at around 1 pm near Bhatouli Mafi village in Hardoi district. The spot falls under the Sandi police station area, close to kilometre marker 317 of the Ganga Expressway and around 40 km from Hardoi district headquarters. According to eyewitnesses, the SUV suddenly lost control and slammed into the central divider. The force of the collision was enormous. Instead of stopping immediately, the vehicle continued scraping against the divider for approximately 30 metres before coming to a halt.

The impact tore apart several parts of the SUV, scattering debris across the expressway. The youngest child was thrown nearly 20 feet away from the road. The three other family members sustained fatal injuries and died at the accident site, according to police.

Toddler rushed to hospital, doctors attempt CPR

After receiving information about the accident, police teams from Sandi, Bilgram and Harpalpur police stations reached the location. Rescue personnel pulled the occupants out of the badly damaged vehicle. While Saurabh, Menaka and their seven-year-old son Vyom were declared dead at the spot, the 18-month-old Shivom was taken to a nearby community health centre.\


Medical staff attempted to revive the toddler through cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). However, despite their efforts, the child could not be saved and was declared dead.

Family was travelling to Prayagraj for Chhath

The Upadhyay family was originally from Prayagraj and had started its journey from Noida on Wednesday morning. They were heading to their native place to celebrate Bhai Dooj and Chhath with relatives. According to Saurabh's brother-in-law, Shishir Upadhyay, the family had planned to spend the festive period with their extended family.

Saurabh was the only son of 65-year-old Jai Govind Upadhyay. He also had two younger sisters, both of whom are married. His family lived in the EWS residential colony in Neem Sarai, Mundera, in Prayagraj. Menaka belonged to Ghazipur, although her parents currently reside in Lucknow's Gomti Nagar. She was the only daughter in her family and had a younger brother.

Saurabh and Menaka married in 2018

Saurabh and Menaka got married in 2018. The couple had two sons, Vyom and Shivom. Menaka had worked as a manager at a company in Noida but left her job in 2024, before the birth of their younger child. The sudden loss of all four family members has left their relatives and loved ones devastated. What was supposed to be a festive journey to meet family members turned into a tragedy.

Police investigate cause of accident

Police are investigating the circumstances that led to the crash. Investigators are examining how the SUV lost control and struck the central divider on the expressway. The exact reason behind the accident has not yet been established. Police are looking into the available evidence to determine what caused the vehicle to veer off course.