Holi Festivities Turn Tragic as Multiple Road Accidents Claim Six Lives in Patna Region
In a devastating series of events, six individuals were killed and at least seven others sustained injuries in multiple road accidents across Patna, Barh, and neighboring areas during Holi celebrations on Wednesday. The incidents have cast a shadow over the festive spirit, highlighting critical road safety concerns in the region.
Head-On Collision and Hit-and-Run on Bihta–Sarmera Highway
The most horrific accident occurred on the Bihta–Sarmera State Highway-78 near Jamalpur village, under the jurisdiction of the same police station. Three young men lost their lives, and one was seriously injured after two motorcycles collided head-on. In a subsequent tragic turn, a speeding unidentified vehicle ran over two of the victims, exacerbating the fatalities.
Ravi Kumar, a 25-year-old from Sundarpur, Dhanrua, was en route to his in-laws' house in Shivchak, Fatuha, while Shankar Ram, 35, from Chak Surat, Shahjahanpur, was traveling towards Beldarichak. The collision threw all four riders onto the road. The speeding vehicle then struck Ravi and Shankar, dragging one body for nearly 200 meters and causing severe mutilation before fleeing towards Beldarichak. Both victims died on the spot.
The injured individuals—Shankar's brother-in-law Suraj Kumar from Dallu Bigha and another pillion rider—were initially rushed to Masaurhi hospital and later referred to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH). Tragically, Suraj succumbed to his injuries during treatment.
Angry locals blocked the highway for nearly three hours in protest. Upon notification, Fatuha SDPO-II Sanjeev Kumar, along with teams from Daniyawan and Shahjahanpur police stations, arrived at the scene. They pacified the crowd and facilitated the transfer of the bodies for post-mortem examinations.
Additional Fatal Incidents Across the Region
In another tragic event in the Pandarak police station area of Barh, a 32-year-old man identified as Bhulla from Pandarak died, while two others, Harihar Mahato and Jhori Mahato, were seriously injured. The group was walking to celebrate Holi when a speeding unidentified four-wheeler struck them. The vehicle overturned into a ditch, and the driver fled the scene. The injured were transported to the sub-divisional hospital for treatment.
Pandarak police station in-charge Navneet Rai confirmed that the driver remains absconding, with investigations ongoing.
A heart-wrenching incident involved a four-year-old girl, Guljaan Parveen, daughter of daily wage worker Mohammad Fayaz Hasan, originally from Madhepura and residing in a rented house. She was playing with other children at Choti Pahadi under Agamkuan police station on Holi evening when a speeding car ran over her, resulting in immediate death.
Enraged locals stopped the vehicle, assaulted passenger Mukesh Kumar, and vandalized the car. However, the driver managed to escape. Agamkuan police and Zero Mile Traffic Police responded promptly, controlling the mob and taking Mukesh to NMCH for medical attention. Zero Mile traffic police in-charge Neeraj Kumar Jha stated, "Raids are on to arrest the absconding driver, Suraj Kumar."
In a separate accident on the Bikram–Naubatpur canal road under Piplawan police station, a 27-year-old man, Anand Vishal from Selgarh, Ranitalab, died on the spot. Anand, a cab driver in Patna, was returning on his motorcycle after celebrating Holi when he lost control near Faridpura, hitting a roadside tree and suffering fatal head injuries. Piplawan police informed his family and sent the body for post-mortem.
Furthermore, two people were injured in separate accidents within the Naubatpur and Gopalpur police station areas on Wednesday, adding to the day's toll of road mishaps.
These incidents underscore the urgent need for enhanced road safety measures and public awareness, particularly during festive periods when traffic volumes surge. Authorities continue to investigate the cases, with efforts focused on apprehending the fleeing drivers and preventing future tragedies.
