‘Thought it might be missile’: Drone crash in UP creates panic, Yadav slams govt over safety lapse

Uttar Pradesh: A drone reportedly undergoing testing by a private firm crashed into an agricultural field in a village in Saifai on Saturday, creating panic among residents. The incident comes at a time when global tensions, particularly the US–Iran conflict in West Asia, dominate public discourse.

Residents mistake drone for missile

The crash caused alarm among locals, with many fearing that the object could be linked to the ongoing conflict abroad.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav took to X to express concern, stating that some people initially believed it to be a missile that had strayed from a war zone. He shared a short video clip of the drone along with his remarks.

Yadav criticises govt over lack of prior intimation

Yadav strongly criticised the BJP-led state government, questioning why residents were not informed in advance about such testing activities.

He argued that if the drone trial was part of an official exercise, authorities should have issued prior alerts to the public. He also raised concerns about safety, pointing out that conducting such trials in populated areas carries significant risk.

He added that had the drone fallen on a residential area instead of farmland, it could have resulted in casualties and property damage.

Call for probe and compensation

The former chief minister demanded a thorough investigation into the incident. He also urged the government to assess both the financial damage caused to the farmer’s land and the psychological distress experienced due to the incident.

He said that appropriate compensation should be provided after evaluating the losses.

Political jibe over Saifai airstrip

Yadav also took a swipe at the ruling party, relaying remarks from locals in Saifai. He said people were questioning how the BJP would manage to operate aircraft from the Saifai airstrip if it could not even handle a drone properly.

He further alleged that the airstrip’s runway had been neglected and not maintained due to political reasons. Saifai is also Yadav’s birthplace.

Police clarify situation, no casualties reported

Responding to Yadav’s post, the Etawah district police confirmed that the drone was a prototype belonging to a private company and had crashed during a trial in Nandpur village under the Saifai area.

Officials stated that parts of the drone had been secured to ensure safety and confirmed that there had been no loss of life. They added that the situation in the area remained normal.

In a separate statement made on Friday, Yadav referred to the US–Israel strikes on Iran and the resulting oil supply concerns in West Asia. He alleged that the BJP was using the conflict as a justification for various domestic issues.

He remarked sarcastically that the government might even claim that the Ganga cleaning efforts were being affected by the situation in West Asia.