Patna: A young man has died and two others were left critically injured after a speeding vehicle struck them on the busy NH-31 highway in Bihar on Holi, turning a day of celebration into mourning in a small riverside community.
The accident occurred near Pandarak High School in the Pandarak police station area of Barh subdivision, in Bihar. According to police and local residents, the three men were on their way to visit an acquaintance to celebrate Holi when they were hit by an allegedly uncontrolled vehicle.
Witnesses said the vehicle was travelling at high speed when the driver appeared to lose control and ploughed into the group. The impact killed one of the men at the scene, while the other two were thrown onto the road with serious injuries. The driver fled immediately after the collision.
Local residents alerted the authorities and called for an ambulance. With the help of bystanders, the injured men were taken to the subdivision hospital in Barh, where doctors described their condition as critical.
Police from Pandarak station have registered a case and launched an investigation. Officers said they are reviewing CCTV footage from the area to identify the vehicle and trace the driver. The vehicle believed to be involved has been seized and is undergoing technical examination, according to officials.
The death has sent shockwaves through the village, where families had been celebrating Holi with colours and music only hours earlier. Relatives of the deceased were inconsolable, neighbours said, as the festival gave way to grief.
Authorities said efforts are under way to arrest the absconding driver. The incident has also renewed concerns about road safety on NH-31, a major highway that frequently witnesses high-speed traffic, with residents calling for stricter enforcement to prevent further tragedies.
