Patna: Two construction workers lost their lives and four others sustained serious injuries in a head-on collision between a school van and an autorickshaw on NH-139 in Arwal district on Sunday morning. The accident took place near the Madhusrava turn under Mehendia police station area.
Victims identified
The deceased were identified as Mithlesh Kumar (37) and Raja Bind (34), both residents of Mattuchak village under Paras Bigha police station area in Jehanabad district. The injured include Munrik Bind and Ravish Bind from Matuk Chak, and Pappu Manjhi and Sadhu Bind from Sendhwa village. All victims were construction workers traveling in the autorickshaw from Ankopur to Maa Kamakhya Construction's plant at Pahelija in Mehendia.
Impact of collision
One passenger died on the spot due to the force of the impact. Four others suffered serious injuries, with one in critical condition. He was referred from Sadar Hospital to Patna for advanced treatment but succumbed to his injuries en route. Police reported that the autorickshaw was completely mangled, trapping the occupants inside. A grader machine was deployed to rescue the injured workers. The accident caused a long traffic jam on the highway, which was cleared after damaged vehicles were removed using a JCB machine.
Police investigation
Mehendia police station in-charge Chandan Kumar Jha confirmed that six people were traveling in the autorickshaw. “One died at the spot, while the injured were rushed to Sadar Hospital, Arwal, for treatment. Police have seized both the autorickshaw and the school van, and a detailed investigation into the cause of the accident is underway. The bodies of the deceased have been sent for postmortem,” he said.
He added, “Since the accident occurred on a Sunday, the school van was empty, averting what could have been a much larger tragedy.”
