Six returning from Maha Kumbh die in Bhojpur accident

Ara: Six people from Patna, including four members of a family, died when their SUV rammed into a stationary container truck on the Ara-Mohania four-lane road under the Jagdishpur police station area in Bhojpur district in the early hours of Friday. The victims were returning from the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj.
The deceased were identified as Sanjay Kumar (62) of Jakkanpur police station area in Patna, his wife Karuna Devi (58), their son Lal Babu Singh (25) — who was driving the car — and their niece Priyam Kumari (20). Two other victims were Sanjay's sister-in-law Asha Kiran (28) of Kumhrar and another relative, Juhi Rani (25).
The accident occurred around 3.17am near a fuel station in Dulhinganj village. Staff of the fuel station rushed to the spot only to find that all six occupants of the SUV had died.
Sub-inspector (SI) Aaftab Khan, posted at Jagdishpur police station, said at 3.30am, the Dial 112 police team was first informed of the accident. "I, along with additional SHO of Jagdishpur police station, Kumar Jayant, and other police personnel, rushed to the spot. We found the SUV deeply embedded in the stationary truck. With the help of locals, we extricated six people, including four women, from the severely mangled vehicle. All had died in the accident. It is likely that the young driver fell asleep at the wheel, leading to this crash in which he, his parents, cousin and two other relatives — all from Patna district — lost their lives."
Police had to cut open seat belts to retrieve the bodies. Two airbags had deployed, but the impact of the collision was so severe that one of the car's wheels was found about 20 feet away from the crash site, according to sources.
Kaushalendra Kumar, the younger brother of the deceased Sanjay, said, "Altogether 13 people, travelling in two SUVs, left Patna on Feb 19 for the Maha Kumbh. The accident happened during our return journey in the early hours of Friday. My nephew (Lal Babu Singh), who was driving the car, probably dozed off unintentionally."
The bodies were sent for post-mortem at Ara Sadar Hospital.