KATIHAR: Six persons died and three were seriously injured when the SUV they were travelling in collided head-on with a sand-laden truck in Katihar district in the wee hours of Tuesday. This was the second major accident within 24 hours and only 12km from the spot where 5 people had died in an autorickshaw-truck collision on the NH-31 on Monday. The accident took place on Kataria-Kosi bridge near Kursela on NH-31.
The deceased were identified as Shivji Mahato (42), Raj Kumar Mahato (27), Nandlal Kumar Mahato (24), Ajay Mahato (42), Ram Swaroop Shah (45) and Santosh Shah (38). The injured are Sunil Mahato (35), Kailash Mahato (60) and Arjun Mahato (60), all from Rosera in Samastipur district, Kursela police station SHO Anjay Aman said. They were returning home after attending a ‘tilak’ (engagement) ceremony in Korha block. The injured were undergoing treatment at Katihar Medical College and Hospital. The truck was coming from Bhagalpur side, he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bihar governor Phagu Chauhan and chief minister Nitish Kumar expressed grief and condolences to the bereaved families. The CM also announced Rs4 lakh ex gratia payment to the next of kin of each deceased.
“Heard the sad news about death of few people in a road accident at Katihar in Bihar. I express my condolences to the family members of the victims and pray for early recovery of injured persons,” PM Modi tweeted.
“Have got the information about death of six persons in a road accident near Kursela in Katihar. My deep condolences for the deceased persons. District administration has been instructed to expedite the ex gratia payment and treatment of the injured persons,” the CM said in a statement.
The impact of the collision was so powerful that the SUV coming from north side turned to south direction, DSP (traffic) J P Narayan said.
“It took at least three hours to extricate the body of the SUV driver, which was badly stuck between the dashboard and the front seat. The policemen carrying out the rescue operation had their uniform soaked in blood,” the SHO said.
“JCB and heavy machines were used to extricate the bodies from the mangled SUV. Six occupants of the SUV died on the spot. The condition of the three injured is critical,” said Anjani Kumar, an ASI posted at Kursela police station, who supervised the rescue operation at the accident site.
District transport officer (DTO) Md Athar, who was preparing a report of the accident with an official from the National Highways Authority of India, said, “These accidents take place due to over-speeding and reckless driving. We have conducted several refreshers courses, but the truck drivers are not paying any attention.”
Deputy CM Tarkishore Prasad said the ex gratia payment was made to the family members of the victims.
3 of a family crushed to death in Siwan
Three persons, including two minor boys of the same family, were crushed to death by a truck at Millat Colony Mor under Sarai police outpost in Siwan on Tuesday. Sarai outpost incharge Bhagwan Tiwari said the deceased were identified as Faiyyaz Alam (6), Muskaan (10) and their maternal uncle Rehan Alam (20). Tiwari said one Shabana Khatoon (35), the mother of Faiyyaz and Muskaan, was critically injured in the accident. They were going on a bike to Chand Kudaria village under Mashrakh police station area in Siwan when the incident took place. He said the truck was seized but the driver managed to escape.