11 from E Champaran die in West Bengal bus accident

Burdwan/Motihari: Eleven people from Bihar's East Champaran district — 10 pilgrims and the bus helper — were killed and 36 others injured when a bus returning from Gangasagar rammed into a stationary trailer truck on NH-19 near Fagupur crossing in East Burdwan district, West Bengal, on Friday morning. Police said the trailer truck had broken down and was stranded in the middle of the highway when the bus, registered in Bihar, collided with its rear around 7am. The impact was so severe that some passengers were thrown out of the bus through the windows. According to injured passengers, the collision was so powerful that the trailer truck moved about 10 feet from its original position. The deceased were identified as Mira Devi (30) of Lalbegiya Ghat; Amarjit Kumar (14) of Lalbegiya Ghat; Jogi Sahni (65) of Sarsawaghat; Nagina Sahni (76) of Sarsawaghat; Naresh Paswan (45) of Dhaka Road; Pundeb (Punyadeo) Paswan (65) of Dhaka Road; Sundarpati Devi (65) of Sarsawaghat; Shiv Shankar Giri (54) of Laxmipur; Sukdev Sharma (68) of Chhatuni, Badhai Tola and Paras Sah (46) of Sarsawaghat — all from East Champaran. Guddu Singh of Areraj, who was driving the bus, also succumbed during treatment. Locals rushed to the spot after hearing the crash and helped police rescue the injured. Thirty-six passengers, including six children, were taken to Burdwan Medical College and Hospital where several remain in critical condition. "Out of 26 injured persons, six children are receiving treatment," said an injured passenger, Santosh Sah. Police have registered an FIR against the trailer truck for illegally parking in the middle of the national highway. The truck driver fled the spot and both vehicles have been seized. All 11 bodies underwent post-mortem at Burdwan Medical College and Hospital. Ten identified bodies were handed over to their families on Saturday and 11 ambulances were arranged by the district administration to transport them to East Champaran. Upon learning of the tragedy, five people from Sarsawa and Lalbegiya villages in Chiraiya block travelled to Burdwan to assist in identifying the dead and injured. "We found Paras Sah, Nagina Sah, Jogi Sah, Surpati Devi, Mira Devi and her son Amarjit among the dead," said one villager. Anuradha Kumari, circle officer of Chiraiya, said, "Six persons, including two women and a minor boy, have died in the Chiraiya circle office area. I have visited their homes and met their family members to offer help." Sikrahana SDPO Umesh Chandra said they were awaiting the arrival of the bodies in Motihari. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar expressed grief and announced Rs 2 lakh ex gratia for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for each of the injured. He posted on X that he had instructed officials to coordinate with the West Bengal govt to ensure the timely transportation of mortal remains to Bihar. East Champaran DM Saurabh Jorwal said district police and officials had been alerted to provide ex gratia payments without delay. The East Burdwan district administration also announced Rs 2 lakh financial aid for each bereaved family.

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