Bettiah/Patna: Six people were killed and several others injured after a bus allegedly went out of control and ploughed into a crowd watching an orchestra performance during a Chhathiyar ceremony in West Champaran district on Friday night.
The accident occurred around 11pm near Bankatwa Middle School in the Baswariya Parautola Panchayat area under Lauriya police station. The bus was travelling from Gorakhpur to Bettiah when it reportedly crashed into people gathered by the roadside for the performance.
The impact triggered panic at the scene, with people running for safety as several others were trapped or injured.
Bus crashes into roadside gathering
The orchestra performance was being held as part of a Chhathiyar, or post-birth, ceremony at the house of Shatrughan Dubey, according to eyewitness Jayprakash Mahto, whose brother Bahadur Mahto was among those killed.
Mahto said a speeding bus suddenly lost control and ploughed into the gathering. Several people were killed or injured at the spot, he said.
The crash triggered panic at the scene, with people running for safety as others rushed to help the injured.
Several injured in crash
According to the information provided, the deceased have been identified as Chhangur Ram, 70, of Bankatwa; Bahadur Mahto, 45, of Baswariya; Sanjay Kumar, 28, of Baswariya; Rakesh Kumar Dubey, 35, of Bankatwa; and Devendra Dubey, 35, of Bankatwa.
The administration’s final casualty figure and the identity of the sixth deceased person were not available at the time of publication. Those reported injured include Shyam Babu Kumar, 16, Ajit Kumar, 18, Mochan Mahto, 50, and Naresh Ram, 40. They are residents of Bankatwa and Baswariya villages, according to the information provided. Several of the injured are reported to be in critical condition.
Bus crashes into roadside gathering
The orchestra performance had been organised as part of a Chhathiyar, or post-birth, ceremony. A large number of people had gathered by the roadside to watch the programme when the bus allegedly lost control and entered the crowd.
The accident left the area in chaos, with panic and screams reported immediately after the crash.
The incident has cast a pall of grief over the surrounding villages. Further details, including the confirmed number of casualties and injured people, are awaited from the administration.
