A late-night journey turned into a nightmare for a family from Bhagalpur when their SUV met with a devastating accident on the Bakhtiyarpur–Mokama four-lane highway in Patna district. The collision, involving multiple vehicles in dense fog, claimed two lives and left four others critically injured.
Sequence of a Tragic Collision
The fatal incident occurred around 10.45 pm on Saturday night near Fulelpur village, under the limits of the Athmalgola police station. According to police, the chain of events began when a container truck travelling ahead suffered a sudden tyre burst, forcing it to stop abruptly on the highway.
An SUV, which was following the truck closely, failed to avoid the stationary vehicle and crashed into its rear with tremendous force. Seconds later, another car collided with the already wrecked SUV, resulting in a deadly pile-up on the fog-engulfed road.
Victims and the Severity of Impact
The police identified the deceased as Anupam Kumar (52), a bank employee from Bhagalpur, and his 25-year-old daughter, Aastha Rani. The impact of the crash was horrifyingly severe. Officials reported that Anupam's head was smashed, and Aastha's head was severed from her body. The roof of their SUV was completely torn off in the collision.
The family was travelling from Bhagalpur to Faridabad at the time of the accident. Anupam's wife, Shweta Kumari, sustained serious injuries and is undergoing treatment. Their son, Sunny, escaped with minor injuries.
Rescue Operations and Other Injured
Station House Officer (SHO) Rahul Kumar stated that the SUV driver was trapped inside the mangled vehicle. “With the help of a crane, the bodies were pulled out and sent to Barh sub-divisional hospital for post-mortem,” he said. The injured were rushed to Panchmukhi Hospital in Bakhtiyarpur for urgent medical care.
The occupants of the other car involved were also injured. They were identified as Ajit Kumar Chandan, who suffered multiple fractures including broken arms and ribs, and Sunil Kumar, a deputy manager at SBI Patna. Sunil explained that they were returning to Patna after a meeting with the Bhagalpur district magistrate when the poor visibility caused by fog led to the collision with the vehicles ahead.
This tragic accident on a major Bihar highway underscores the extreme dangers of driving in dense fog, especially at high speeds and with inadequate stopping distance. It has left two families shattered and serves as a grim reminder for all commuters.
