At least seven people were killed and 14 others injured after a speeding trailer rammed into a stationary pick-up van carrying mourners to Varanasi for a family member's last rites in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh district on Monday, police said.
The accident occurred around 10.30 am near Mahanetand in the Danua Valley under Chauparan police station limits. The vehicle had stopped along the roadside when the trailer struck it from behind, causing it to overturn and throwing several passengers onto the road.
Five people died on the spot, while two others succumbed to their injuries during treatment. Three of the injured were reported to be in critical condition.
๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐๐ฌ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ข
The victims belonged to Salaiyatand village under Biharo panchayat in Giridih district's Bagodar block. They were travelling to Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh with the body of 90-year-old Kunjo Prajapati, who had died on Sunday.
According to family members, Prajapati had expressed a wish to have his last rites performed in Varanasi. His relatives had arranged a vehicle to transport his body and accompany it for the funeral.
During the journey, the vehicle stopped near Mahanetand after the rope securing the body became loose. Some passengers reportedly stepped out to tighten the rope when the speeding trailer approached from behind and struck the stationary vehicle.
The force of the collision overturned the pick-up van, leaving several passengers trapped or scattered across the road.
A coal-laden truck travelling behind the trailer also collided with the vehicle before overturning into the valley, further complicating the accident scene.
๐ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ญ
Police initially confirmed five deaths at the accident site. Two more victims subsequently died while undergoing treatment, taking the toll to seven.
Among the deceased were Raju Pandit (40), his wife Budhni Devi (50), Dhokal Pandit (45), Rameshwar Pandit (70) and Ramkisun Mahto (50).
Raju was the son of Kunjo Prajapati, whose body the family was transporting to Varanasi. He had been working in Mumbai and had returned to his native village after learning about his father's death.
The tragedy claimed his life while he was accompanying his father's funeral procession.
Police said the identities of the remaining victims were being verified.
Chauparan police station officer-in-charge Pankaj Kumar said the impact was so severe that the pick-up van overturned, throwing several occupants onto the road.
๐๐ง๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ก๐จ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ
Following the collision, local residents rushed to the accident site and joined police personnel in rescuing the injured.
The victims were taken to hospitals in Hazaribagh and Barhi, where doctors began emergency treatment.
Those requiring advanced medical care were referred to Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College Hospital in Hazaribagh.
Police said three injured passengers were initially reported to be in critical condition, while several others sustained injuries of varying severity.
Medical teams assessed the injured and arranged further treatment according to their condition.
The accident also disrupted traffic along the busy road as emergency personnel worked to clear the damaged vehicles and assist the victims.
๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ก ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ก๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ
The driver of the trailer fled the scene following the collision, police said. A search has been launched to trace him and establish the circumstances leading to the accident.
Investigators are examining how the trailer struck the stationary vehicle and the sequence of events involving the coal-laden truck.
The collision occurred along the Danua Valley stretch, which carries heavy commercial traffic, including large goods vehicles.
Police said further investigation was underway, while arrangements were being made for the necessary legal formalities concerning the deceased.
The accident turned a family's journey to perform the last rites of an elderly relative into a tragedy that claimed the lives of several mourners travelling together.