23 killed as bus rams into truck on Patna-Gaya road

PATNA: In the worst-ever road mishap in recent times in Bihar, at least 23 passengers were killed and several others injured when a Gaya-bound private bus rammed into a truck coming from the opposite direction.

The tragic accident took place near Chanaki village under the Dhanarua block, 35 km from Patna, around 7.30 on Saturday morning. The vehicles were negotiating a serpentine turn and the drivers could not sight vehicles coming from opposite direction. Yet, the two drivers did not slow down the vehicles.

So strong was the collision that the fronts of the two vehicles were reduced to a wreckage of mangled iron and scraps strewn all around along with flesh and blood.

The bus was overloaded with few of its 75-odd passengers squatting even on its rooftop. Even though it was packed beyond capacity, the bus conductor was allowing in passengers at different points after the vehicle started from Patna, survivors said and added the bus turned turtle following the accident. The truck was laden with packed cartons of clothes and other materials.

Local villagers soon assembled at the site and tried to rescue the moaning passengers. Soon policemen also came. Vehicles passing by were stopped and the injured rushed to hospitals by them. While 17 bodies were extricated from the bus by breaking the windows, six passengers died on the way to the PMCH. The deceased included six women and children and the two drivers.

At least 30 grievously injured persons were admitted to PMCH, where the condition of at least ten persons was stated to be critical. Those who sustained minor injuries were taken to the health sub-centres at Dhanarua and Masaurhi.

Nokhu Chowdhary and wife Saraswati Devi had to take their ailing one-year-old child to a doctor in Jehanabad. The trio boarded the crowded bus at Dhanarua, and died in the mishap only 3 km away. Chowdhary’s relatives along with other villagers blocked the Patna-Gaya highway near Dhanarua. The agitators gheraoed DM Jeetendra Kumar Sinha when he reached the spot. Unhappy over the meagre government compensation of Rs 50,000 to the kin of each deceased, they were demanding Rs 5 lakh each. Later, they reduced their demand to Rs one lakh.

Vidyanand Paswan of Dhanarua, who led the blockade, said, "We lifted the blockade after getting a positive assurance from the officials present at the site."

The compensation of Rs 50,000 was earlier announced by chief minister Nitish Kumar, who also directed the officials concerned to ensure free treatment of all the injured passengers.