Tragic Bus Accident Claims Life of Tamil Nadu Pilgrim, Leaves 19 Injured in Bihar
A devastating road accident on National Highway 219 in Bihar has resulted in the death of a 72-year-old pilgrim from Tamil Nadu and left 19 others with serious injuries. The tragic collision occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning when a tourist bus carrying 24 passengers crashed into a truck near Suara village in Rohtas district.
Details of the Fatal Collision
According to police reports from the Dehri Mufassil police station area, the accident took place around 3 AM on NH-219. The tourist bus, registered as UP 65 NT 5223, was transporting a group of pilgrims from Varanasi to Gaya when the collision happened. Preliminary investigations indicate that the bus driver, identified as Sonu Pal, allegedly dozed off at the wheel, leading to the catastrophic impact with the truck.
The deceased pilgrim has been identified as Raju M, a resident of Abraham Street in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. Police confirmed that he died instantly at the accident scene. All other passengers on the bus were residents of Kanchipuram district in Tamil Nadu, traveling together on their pilgrimage journey.
Rescue Operations and Medical Treatment
Local police responded swiftly to the accident scene and conducted rescue operations. All 19 injured passengers were extracted from the wreckage and transported to Narayan Medical College and Hospital in Jamuhar for emergency medical treatment.
Medical authorities report that several of the injured are in critical condition, including:
- Kavita (47 years old)
- Kayal Kannan (50 years old)
- Silva (43 years old)
- Divyadarshini (19 years old)
- K Pari (10 years old)
- Srilatha (50 years old)
- Balaji K (49 years old)
Also among the injured was Sanjay Pal, a Varanasi resident who was accompanying the group to provide food services during their pilgrimage. He sustained injuries in the crash and is receiving medical care alongside the other victims.
Police Investigation and Family Notification
Dehri Station House Officer Nitesh Kumar provided updates on the investigation and family notification process. "We have informed the families of both the deceased and all injured passengers," stated SHO Kumar. "The relatives of the victim have flown from Chennai and are expected to arrive soon to complete the necessary formalities."
The body of Raju M has been sent for post-mortem examination as part of the standard investigative procedure. Police have confirmed that a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the accident is currently underway, with particular focus on determining the exact cause of the driver allegedly falling asleep during the journey.
The tragic incident has highlighted the dangers of long-distance night travel, especially for pilgrim groups undertaking extensive journeys across state lines. The collision occurred on NH-219, a major highway connecting important religious destinations in the region, raising questions about road safety measures for such routes.
