A catastrophic chain-reaction crash on a major Patna highway late Saturday night resulted in two fatalities and left three individuals with severe injuries. The accident, attributed to dangerously low visibility caused by dense fog, involved multiple vehicles on the busy Bakhtiyarpur-Mokama four-lane stretch.
The Sequence of a Tragic Collision
The horrific incident was set in motion when a large container truck travelling on the highway experienced a sudden tyre burst. This mechanical failure caused the truck driver to lose control and slow down abruptly on the road. An SUV, which was following closely behind, failed to notice the stalled truck in time due to a thick blanket of fog that had enveloped the area since evening. The SUV rammed into the rear of the container at high speed.
The impact was so severe that it triggered a pile-up, with at least one more vehicle getting entangled in the crash. Eyewitnesses and local residents confirmed that visibility was critically poor, making it nearly impossible for drivers to spot obstacles ahead.
Police Response and Rescue Efforts
Personnel from the Athmalgola police station swiftly arrived at the scene after being alerted about the disaster. They took charge of traffic management and coordinated the rescue operations to extricate the victims from the mangled vehicles.
Athmalgola Station House Officer (SHO) Rahul Kumar Singh provided crucial details about the timing and aftermath. He stated that the accident occurred around 10:45 PM on Saturday night. "The SUV hit the container truck due to the fog. Two people died on the spot. One person was still stuck in the car. The police will extract his body using the cutter," SHO Singh explained.
Regarding the injured, he added, "Three others were sent to a private hospital in Bakhtiyyapur for urgent medical treatment." The identities of all the victims remained unknown at the time, with the police actively working to gather information and notify their families.
Ongoing Investigation and Safety Concerns
The police have launched a full investigation into the circumstances leading to the fatal pile-up. While the primary cause appears to be the dense fog combined with the tyre burst, authorities are examining all factors, including vehicle speeds and driver alertness.
This tragic event has once again highlighted the severe risks associated with driving in foggy conditions, especially on high-speed corridors like the Bakhtiyarpur-Mokama highway. It raises urgent questions about road safety protocols, the need for advanced fog warning systems, and driver education for navigating such hazardous weather.
