Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi escaped unhurt on Monday morning, October 26, 2026, after multiple vehicles in his convoy were involved in a chain-reaction collision on the Purvanchal Expressway in Uttar Pradesh.
Details of the Collision on Purvanchal Expressway
The incident occurred around 10:15 AM near the 91-kilometer milestone on the expressway while Gandhi’s convoy was travelling from Lucknow Airport to Sultanpur. According to police officials, a private vehicle carrying local Congress leaders at the front of the motorcade suddenly applied its brakes. The sudden stop caused four to five follow-up vehicles—including an escort vehicle, party workers’ cars, and a rear ambulance—to collide with one another.
While Rahul Gandhi remained completely safe and uninjured in his vehicle, minor injuries were reported among security personnel and party workers traveling in the trailing cars. Following a brief pause to inspect the damage and ensure medical attention for those with minor scrapes, the motorcade resumed its journey toward the court.
Context: Sultanpur Court Appearance for Defamation Verdict
The Congress MP was en route to the Special MP-MLA Court in Sultanpur, which is scheduled to pronounce its verdict today in a 2018 criminal defamation case filed against him.
The case stems from a complaint lodged by local BJP leader Vijay Mishra, who alleged that Gandhi made objectionable remarks targeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah (the then-BJP National President) during a press conference in Bengaluru ahead of the 2018 Karnataka Assembly elections.
