Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Five people were killed and four others seriously injured after a passenger bus ran over a group of people watching an orchestra programme along NH-727 in Bihar’s West Champaran district late Saturday night. The accident triggered anger among villagers, who blocked the highway on Sunday after the bodies were brought back following postmortem.
According to officials, Devendra Dubey had organised an orchestra programme in Bankatwa village to mark his daughter’s chhathiyar and birthday celebrations. A large number of villagers had gathered along the roadside to watch the event.
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The accident occurred when a truck travelling from Bettiah and a passenger bus heading from Lauria towards Bettiah were reportedly involved in an overtaking manoeuvre. The bus lost control and ploughed into the crowd gathered beside the road.
The impact caused chaos at the spot. Local residents rushed to the scene and managed to stop the bus. Five people died on the spot, while four others suffered serious injuries. The injured were rushed to the Government Medical College and Hospital in Bettiah for treatment.
The bodies were sent for postmortem, and when they reached the village on Sunday, grieving family members and local residents placed them on NH-727 and blocked traffic. The protesters demanded compensation for the victims’ families and government jobs for one member of each affected family.
Following the road blockade, BDO, CO, RO and the District Magistrate’s OSD reached the spot and tried to persuade the protesters to clear the highway.
Narkatiaganj SDPO Jaiprakash Singh said the bus hit people who were watching the entertainment programme around midnight, killing five and seriously injuring four others. He appealed to the villagers to end the road blockade and said the victims’ families would receive financial assistance available under government provisions.
– Ends
with inputs from Abhishek Pandey
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
