Major Bus-Truck Collision on National Highway 27 Leaves Two Dozen Injured in Bihar
A serious road accident involving a passenger bus and a truck occurred in the early hours of Thursday on National Highway 27 in Bihar's Supaul district, resulting in injuries to at least 24 individuals. The bus, which was en route from Patna to Udakishunganj, overturned following a violent collision with a speeding truck, causing significant damage to both vehicles but, fortunately, no loss of life.
Details of the Early Morning Mishap
The incident took place around 4 AM near the Harsh Petrol Pump at Hariyahi, within the jurisdiction of the Nirmali police station area. According to eyewitness accounts and statements from injured passengers, the bus was carrying over 40 people when a truck, attempting to overtake at high speed, struck it forcefully. The impact caused the bus to lose balance and topple onto the highway, leading to chaos and injuries among the passengers.
The injured passengers have been identified as:
- Anil Ram
- Sujit Kumar
- Sutikshna Kumar
- Md Ustad
- Sahil Kumar
- Ranjit Kumar
- Nutan Devi
- Ankit Kumar
- Karan Kumar
- Subhadra Devi
- Md Shahenshah
- Pandav Kumar
- Anil Mandal
- Truck driver Jitendra Kumar
Among others, these individuals sustained various degrees of injury in the crash.
Rescue and Medical Response Efforts
Following the accident, local residents and police personnel swiftly arrived at the scene to initiate rescue operations. The truck driver, Jitendra Kumar, was trapped inside the cabin and required prolonged efforts to be extricated safely. All injured persons were promptly transported to the sub-divisional hospital in Nirmali for initial medical attention.
Dr. Alok Raj, the duty doctor at the hospital, provided an update on the condition of the victims. "Fourteen injured passengers were admitted and received treatment at our facility. However, eight of them were in serious condition and had to be referred to higher medical centers for advanced care and specialized treatment," he stated.
Police Investigation and Traffic Restoration
Nirmali Station House Officer (SHO) Siyawar Mandal confirmed that police teams reached the accident spot shortly after receiving information. "We immediately worked to remove the damaged vehicles from NH-27, which allowed us to restore normal traffic flow on the busy highway. Our preliminary investigation points to overspeeding and negligence as the primary causes behind this unfortunate accident," Mandal explained.
The police have registered a case in connection with the incident, and a thorough investigation is currently underway to determine the exact circumstances and assign responsibility. Authorities are examining factors such as vehicle speed, driver behavior, and road conditions at the time of the collision.
This accident highlights ongoing concerns about road safety on national highways in Bihar, particularly during early morning hours when visibility may be reduced and driver fatigue could be a factor. It serves as a stark reminder for both commercial and private vehicle operators to adhere to speed limits and exercise caution while overtaking, especially on high-traffic routes like NH-27.
