Five killed as bus ploughs through crowd at cultural event in Bihar
At least five people lost their lives and several others were injured, one of them critically, after a bus ploughed into a crowd attending a cultural programme in Bihar's West Champaran district, police said on Saturday.
The incident occurred around 10.45 pm on Friday along Lauriya Marg in Parau Tola, under the jurisdiction of Lauriya police station.
"While trying to avert a head-on collision with a truck, the bus ploughed through a crowd attending a cultural event on the roadside, killing five men and injuring several others," Narkatiyaganj Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Ajay Prakash Singh told PTI.
The bus, travelling to Bettiah from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, caused a stampede-like situation at the event, he added.
The deceased have been identified as Bahadur Mahto, Sanjay Kumar, Bhola Dubey, Devender Dubey and Jhangur Ram. The cultural event was being held to mark the 'chhathi' (an after-birth ritual) of Devender Dubey's daughter.
The critically injured individual is currently receiving treatment at a medical facility in Lauriya.
The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination, the officer said.
"The bus and the truck have been seized, while their drivers fled the spot taking advantage of the chaos," he said, adding that a search has been launched to trace them.
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed grief over the deaths and conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased.
"The news of the death of several people in the Lauriya police station area of West Champaran district is extremely tragic. May God give a place to the departed souls in his feet and provide enough strength to the kin to brave the loss," he said in a social media post.
He also directed officials to ensure the injured receive proper medical treatment. (with inputs from PTI)
