Bihar: Nine die, two hurt as SUV falls into roadside ditch in Purnia

PATNA: At least nine people were killed and two others injured when an SUV they were travelling in fell into a water-filled roadside ditch at Kanija village under the Angarh police station in Purnia district around 3am on Saturday.
The victims were on way home in Noonia village in Kishanganj after attending a 'tilak' ceremony at Tarabadi in Purnia district. The driver lost control over the vehicle before it overturned and fell into a water-filled ditch. The victims were identified as Ganga Prasad Yadav, Tandav Lal Yadav, Karan Lal Yadav, Ramkishan Yadav, Amarchand Yadav, Kalicharan Yadav, Manik Lal Sharma and Gulabchand Lal Yadav. The identity of the driver, who also died, was yet to be ascertained.
Baunsi SDPO Aditya Kumar said two occupants of the vehicle managed to get out of it while nine others died on the spot. "The bodies of the nine people were fished out with the help of local divers and villagers."
The SDPO said primary investigations revealed that rash driving led to the accident. "The vehicle overturned after taking a sharp turn near Kanjia Middle School. It fell into a 20-foot-deep ditch. All the victims were from the same family. They had gone to Tarabadi to attend a 'tilak' ceremony."
Chief minister Nitish Kumar has expressed condolences on the loss of lives in the accident and announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each to the next of the kin of the victims.