Five killed as bus ploughs into crowd at cultural event in Bihar

At least five people were killed and several others injured when a bus swerved to avoid a head-on collision with a truck and ploughed into a crowd attending a cultural programme in Bihar's West Champaran district police said on Saturday.

The accident occurred around 10:45 p.m. on Friday, Aug 21st 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 into a crowd attending a cultural event on the roadside killing five men and injuring several others" Narkatiyaganj Sub-divisional Police Officer Ajay Prakash Singh told PTI.

The crash triggered a stampede-like situation among those gathered at the event he added.

The bodies of the deceased have been sent for post-mortem examination.

Both the bus and the truck have been seized while their drivers fled the scene in the ensuing chaos. A manhunt has been launched to trace them.