Jharkhand News : A devastating road accident occurred early Tuesday morning in the Mohanpur block of Jharkhand’s Devghar district. A bus packed with Kanwariyas (Shiva devotees) collided head-on with a truck loaded with gas cylinders near the Jamuniya area. At least 18 people, including the bus driver, lost their lives on the spot, while several others sustained critical injuries.
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According to initial reports, the bus was en route from Sultanganj to Baba Baidyanath Dham in Devghar, a key pilgrimage site during the Shravan month. The impact of the collision was so severe that the bus was completely mangled, with parts scattered all over the road.
Upon receiving information, local police, administrative officials, and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams rushed to the scene and began rescue operations. The injured were immediately transported to Sadar Hospital in Devghar, where many are reported to be in serious condition.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as horrifying, with screams and cries filling the air. Most of the devotees on board the bus were reportedly from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, participating in the annual Kanwar Yatra, where devotees walk miles carrying holy water to offer at the Baba Dham temple.
The bus collided directly with the gas-laden truck in what authorities believe was a case of speeding combined with poor road conditions. The exact cause of the accident is under investigation. Officials suspect that visibility issues and lack of proper traffic regulation in the area may have also contributed to the mishap.
Following the incident, chaos erupted at the site as passersby and locals rushed in to help the injured. Emergency services were quick to respond, and NDRF teams used special tools to rescue passengers trapped inside the wreckage.
Senior district officials, including the Devghar Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police, reached the site and supervised the rescue and relief efforts. The government has promised strict action after a thorough probe.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren expressed deep grief over the tragedy and announced compensation for the families of the deceased. The tragic accident has cast a shadow over the ongoing Kanwar Yatra, turning a religious journey into a heartbreaking loss for many families.
