9 Killed, 4 Injured in Road Accident in Patna
Patna, 23 August – (www.deccanlive.com): A tragic road accident in Patna has claimed 9 lives and left 4 people seriously injured. The accident happened on Saturday morning near Sigriya station on the Dhaniyawan–Hilsa State Highway-4 in Shahjahanpur.
According to police, a truck and an auto-rickshaw collided head-on. Seven people died on the spot, while two more died in hospital. Among the dead are eight women and the auto driver. A mother and daughter were also among the victims.
The deceased belonged to Malawa village in Hilsa, Nalanda district. The injured were rushed to PMCH Hospital in critical condition.
Eyewitness Rajeev Ranjan said the accident occurred around 6 AM, when a speeding truck hit the auto. He added that the passengers were going for a Ganga bath ritual for Teej festival.
The accident site was near a cement factory. Locals alleged the truck belonged to the factory and after the accident, it went inside the premises. Angry villagers blocked the road, demanding that the factory management be held responsible.
Scenes from the accident were heartbreaking — bodies lay on the road, relatives wept, and blood had spread across the street. Broken slippers and personal belongings of the victims were scattered.
Political reactions:
- Local MLA Krishna Murari said that the cement factory should be fined and the money given to the victims’ families.
- CM Nitish Kumar expressed grief and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.
- Former CM Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi demanded ₹10 lakh compensation for the families of the deceased and full medical treatment for the injured.
- Patna DM called the incident “very tragic” and assured all possible help.
Meanwhile, the Hilsa SDM gave a ₹20,000 relief cheque to the victims’ families immediately.
