Four Dead, 15 Injured in Devastating Bhagalpur Bus Collision
In a tragic and horrific road accident, four individuals lost their lives and fifteen others sustained serious injuries in Bhagalpur district on Tuesday evening. The catastrophic incident occurred near Bagdi Bridge within the Kharik police station jurisdiction of Naugachia, where a passenger bus collided head-on with an e-rickshaw and a mini pickup van, leading to widespread chaos and devastation.
Sequence of Events and Immediate Aftermath
Preliminary reports indicate that a speeding bus first rammed into a pickup van, causing the smaller vehicle to lose control and spin directly into the path of an oncoming e-rickshaw. Moments later, the bus ran over workers who had fallen onto the highway, exacerbating the tragedy. Four occupants of the e-rickshaw died on the spot, while at least thirteen of the injured victims are currently receiving treatment at Mayaganj Hospital in Bhagalpur. Two others, in critical condition, were urgently referred to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) for advanced medical care.
Victim Identification and Official Response
Of the deceased, two have been identified so far, with one hailing from Katihar district and the other from Mansi in Khagaria district. Authorities are actively working to ascertain the identities of the remaining victims. Bhagalpur District Magistrate Naval Kishore Chaudhary visited Mayaganj Hospital along with Senior Superintendent of Police Pramod Kumar to assess the situation. The DM confirmed that a collision involving a bus and two small vehicles in the Naugachia area resulted in four fatalities and reiterated ongoing efforts to identify the unidentified deceased.
Police Investigation and Traffic Management
Upon receiving information, personnel from Kharik and Jhandapur police stations swiftly reached the accident site and worked diligently to clear the resulting traffic jam until late at night. All three vehicles involved in the accident have been impounded for further investigation. Prashant Kumar, the Station House Officer of Jhandapur, provided details, stating that the bus was traveling from Khagaria to Naugachia when it collided with the e-rickshaw and van. He noted, "It was not clear in which direction the other two vehicles were travelling. Among the deceased was one minor boy. Most of the victims are labourers at a brick kiln."
The incident has highlighted critical road safety concerns in the region, with local officials urging stricter enforcement of traffic regulations to prevent such tragedies in the future.
