Gaya: A tragic road accident late Monday night near Dakhingaon in Khijarsarai claimed the lives of four members of a family when their SUV lost control and plunged into a roadside pond. The deceased include a couple and their two sons, who were returning to Sahawajpur village after attending a shraddha ceremony in Bihar Sharif.
The accident occurred around midnight when the Scorpio vehicle veered off a bridge and fell into the pond. The driver, identified as Sintu, survived the crash with injuries and is currently undergoing treatment at Magadh Medical College. According to police officials from Wazirganj Police Station, the victims were trapped inside the vehicle and died due to suffocation before rescue efforts could reach them.
Victims Identified
The deceased have been identified as:
- Shashikant Sharma (43), a well-known farmer from Sahawajpur
- Rinki Devi (40), his wife
- Sumit Anand (17), their elder son
- Balkrishna (5), their younger son
Shashikant had traveled to Bihar Sharif to attend the shraddha of a friend’s mother. The accident took place on their way back home in the jurisdiction of Wazirganj police station.
Driver’s Plea for Help Alerted Locals
Eyewitness accounts suggest the accident might have gone unnoticed had it not been for Sintu’s cries for help. “Around midnight, a hotel operator returning home heard someone shouting ‘Save us, save us!’ near the pond,” said Kalendra Kumar, a local resident. “He saw a man standing on the roof of a submerged vehicle, waving for help. He rushed to the village to wake others and inform the police.”
Police arrived promptly and used a JCB machine to pull the SUV out of the water. By then, all four family members had succumbed inside the vehicle.
Postmortem Protested by Villagers
The bodies were initially sent for postmortem, but at around 4 AM, villagers stopped the ambulance near the Wazirganj police station, expressing grief and protest. “When no one from the family is left, what is the purpose of a postmortem?” said one villager. Police said further action regarding the postmortem is underway.
Grief and Shock in Sahawajpur
Back in Sahawajpur, a pall of gloom has descended on the community. Shashikant Sharma, son of Ram Vinay Sharma, was regarded as one of the most prosperous farmers in the village. His son Sumit Anand was reportedly active in BJP youth politics, and Deputy CM Vijay Sinha had visited their home last year.
Shashikant’s mother, already unwell for the past two weeks, collapsed upon hearing the news of the fatal accident. The family’s patriarch, Ram Vinay, was unable to speak when contacted.
Locals and political acquaintances have begun gathering at the Sharma residence to pay respects, mourning the devastating loss of an entire household.
