Four pilgrims were killed as the bus in which they were travelling to Odisha from Varanasi collided with a truck near Bahimar ghat at Katkamsandi in Hazaribag late on Saturday.
Among them, two were residents of Kaniha in Angul district. They have been identified as Manu Behera and Menka Pradhan.
According to sources, a fuel tanker overturned at Danua Ghat in Bihar on Saturday morning. Following this, the local administration diverted vehicles to a different route. The bus carrying 50 passengers was moving along NH 2 when it had a severe head-on collision with a speeding truck.
The four, including three women, were killed on the spot. The injured were rushed to Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College and Hospital in Hazaribagh for immediate treatment. While several passengers were discharged after being given first aid treatment, 29 are still admitted to the hospital, reports said.
As Hazaribagh Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police (SP) received the information related to accident. Both the officers were rushed to hospital and instructed to the doctors to take proper care of each and every injured passengers.
As per the hospital sources some of the passengers were referred to Ranchi Medical hospital. They were severely injured. Remaining passengers are under the treatment of SBMCH Hazaribag.
The deputy commissioner has directed to the superintendent of SBMCH to make the necessary arrangement for the dead body which will go to their native places in the Odisha.
The deputy commissioner Nancy Sahay said that the district administration is also arranging the vehicles to brought to injured persons to their homes.
Meanwhile, sources said that Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today expressed his deep grief over the loss of lives in a bus accident that took place in Hazaribagh district. The road accident occurred when the bus carrying pilgrims from Odisha was returning from Bihar.
The Chief Minister also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of each of the four persons who were killed in the mishap. This apart, he directed the officials to ensure proper treatment to the persons who were injured following the accident.
According to reports, around 55 passengers from Odisha had started their journey 15 days back and were returning after visiting several pilgrim sites in Uttarakhand and Bihar. However, their bus met with an accident with a fruit-laden truck killing four persons. About 35 passengers also were seriously injured following the accident.