A horrific road accident on National Highway-31 in Bhagalpur, Bihar, claimed four lives on Tuesday evening when a speeding bus rammed into an e-rickshaw from behind, also striking a pickup van. Among the deceased was a young child, turning what should have been a routine journey into a scene of unimaginable tragedy.
The bus was en route from Bhagalpur to Saharsa, hurtling along the highway under the jurisdiction of Jhandapur police station near Dayalpur. The e-rickshaw carried passengers returning from Narayanpur after medical treatment. In a split second, the bus collided violently, killing four on the spot and injuring six others, five of whom remain in critical condition at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital.
Chaos erupted at the site with cries echoing through the night. Local authorities, including Bhagalpur District Magistrate Dr. Naval Kishor Chaudhary and the SP of Naugachia, rushed to assess the damage. Police secured the bodies for post-mortem, cleared the wreckage to restore traffic flow, and admitted the injured for urgent care.
Tragically, only two victims have been identified so far: Arvind Kumar Mandal from Katihar, son of Shivanarayan Mandal, and 6-year-old Kunal Kumar, son of Aman Nishad from Morakahi in Khagaria. Families are devastated, grappling with profound loss amid widespread shock in the community.
This incident underscores the persistent dangers of high-speed driving on busy highways. Authorities have launched an investigation, but questions linger about enforcement of speed limits and vehicle safety checks. As the region mourns, calls for stricter road safety measures grow louder.