Eight people were killed and several others injured in a collision between a truck and a passenger van in Jharkhand's Ramgarh district on Monday morning, police officials confirmed. The accident occurred on the Ramgarh-Hazaribagh road near the village of Kuju, approximately 40 kilometers from the district headquarters.
Details of the Incident
According to Ramgarh Superintendent of Police (SP) Rajkumar Mehta, the van was carrying around 15 passengers from Hazaribagh to Ramgarh when a speeding truck hit it head-on around 7:30 am. The impact was so severe that the van was crushed, trapping many passengers inside. Local residents rushed to the scene to assist, pulling out survivors before emergency services arrived.
Eight people, including the van driver, were declared dead at the scene. Four of the deceased were identified as residents of Hazaribagh district, while the remaining four were from Ramgarh. The injured, numbering six, were taken to Ramgarh Sadar Hospital, where two are reported to be in critical condition.
Cause of the Accident
Preliminary investigations suggest that the truck lost control while descending a gradient, leading to the collision. The driver of the truck fled the scene after the accident, and a search is underway to apprehend him. Deputy Commissioner of Ramgarh, Manjunath Bhajantri, stated that a case has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Motor Vehicles Act.
“The truck was overloaded and moving at high speed. We are investigating whether the driver was under the influence of alcohol,” Bhajantri said. He added that the district administration has announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the seriously injured.
Impact and Response
The accident has once again raised concerns about road safety in the region, where narrow roads and reckless driving are common. Local MLA Ramashankar Singh visited the hospital and expressed grief over the incident, urging the government to improve road infrastructure and enforce traffic rules strictly.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren expressed condolences on social media, tweeting, “Deeply saddened by the tragic accident in Ramgarh. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I have directed officials to ensure proper treatment for the injured.”
Road accidents are a major cause of death in India, with over 150,000 fatalities annually. According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Jharkhand recorded 4,351 road accidents in 2022, resulting in 1,982 deaths.
