symbolic picture | Photo credit: The Hindu
At least 12 people, a third of them children, were killed and several others injured when a speeding truck rammed into a religious procession in Bihar’s Vaishali district on Sunday evening.
The accident took place around 9 pm in Desari police station area of North Bihar district, about 30 km from the state capital, when the procession had gathered in front of a roadside “peepal” tree to offer prayers to a local deity. Bhumiya Baba”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the accident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 to each of the injured.
“The accident in Bihar’s Vaishali is sad. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured get well soon. An ex-gratia of Rs two lakh will be given to the next of kin of each of the deceased from the PMNRF (Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund). Rs 50,000 will be given to the injured,” the PM said on Twitter.
RJD MLA Mukesh Roshan, in whose Mahua assembly constituency the incident took place, reached the spot and said, “At least nine people have died on the spot. Several others were taken to Sadar Hospital in Hajipur (the district headquarters), and three succumbed to their injuries on the way. Those whose condition is critical are being referred to hospitals in Patna.
Vaishali Superintendent of Police Manish Kumar said, “As per the custom associated with weddings, a marriage procession was taken out. The marriage was fixed in a few days at a person’s house in nearby Sultanpur village. Speeding trucks on the adjacent Mahanar-Hajipur highway The driver lost control. He is trapped inside the mangled vehicle and we fear he may have died.”
Locals claimed that at least four children were among the dead.
Panic prevailed in the area as people who had lost their loved ones stood on the roadside crying while many others raised angry slogans alleging that the police arrived too late.
The SP said, “We have called personnel from several nearby police stations to speed up the rescue operation and keep the law and order situation under control.”
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed grief over the accident and directed the district administration to ensure proper treatment of those who were injured and expeditious distribution of ex-gratia amount among the next of kin of each deceased, as per rules.