Two Killed in Tragic Truck-Van Collision on NH-31 in Khagaria District
A devastating road accident claimed two lives on Monday when a speeding truck rammed into a van from behind on National Highway 31 in Khagaria district, Bihar. The van, which was carrying approximately 15 to 16 passengers, was traveling to the Katyayani temple for worship at the time of the incident.
Details of the Fatal Crash
Following the collision, two occupants of the van were thrown onto the road and subsequently run over by the truck, which continued moving ahead without stopping. Local residents immediately rushed to the spot upon hearing the crash, but both victims had already succumbed to their injuries by the time help arrived.
The deceased have been identified as Dheeraj Kumar (22), son of Khoji Yadav, and Sanjeev Kumar (33), son of Thandu Yadav. Both were residents of Jagan Saidpur village under the Samho police station area in Begusarai district.
Police Response and Investigation
On receiving information about the accident, a team from the Mufassil police station promptly reached the scene. Mufassil SHO Amarjeet Pratap Singh stated, “Prima facie, the accident appears to be a case of over-speeding and negligent driving. An investigation is currently underway, and legal action will be taken against the driver found responsible for this tragic event.”
Public Outrage and Highway Blockade
Angered by the incident, villagers from the surrounding area blocked NH-31 in protest, leading to extensive traffic snarls on both sides of the highway for several hours. The blockade caused significant disruption to vehicular movement, with long queues of vehicles stranded as a result.
Khagaria’s circle officer and the Mufassil SHO later arrived at the site to address the protesters. They pacified the crowd by assuring them that appropriate action would be taken against those responsible for the accident. Following these assurances, the blockade was subsequently lifted, allowing traffic to resume normal flow.
Postmortem and Aftermath
The bodies of the two victims were sent to Khagaria Sadar Hospital for a postmortem examination. The incident has highlighted ongoing concerns about road safety and reckless driving on highways in the region, prompting calls for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations to prevent such tragedies in the future.
