Patna: Two devotees died and at least 12 others injured after a pickup van carrying Kanwariyas collided with a Hiva truck on the four-lane highway in Mokama, Patna, on Sunday.
The accident occurred when a group of Kanwariyas was travelling from Ballia district in Uttar Pradesh to Deoghar during the Sawan pilgrimage. The van overturned after the collision, killing Rekha Devi, aged 45, on the spot. Harendra Rajbhar, aged 60, succumbed to injuries while being taken to hospital.
According to police, the injured were admitted to the trauma centre, with seven of them in critical condition referred to Patna for further treatment. There were 26 passengers in the van, all residents of Tetarpur under Narhi police station in Ballia district. The Hiva truck fled the scene after the accident.
The month of Sawan sees thousands of Kanwariyas undertaking the journey to Deoghar’s Baba Baidyanath temple, leading to increased traffic on key pilgrimage routes. Police said efforts are being made to trace the absconding vehicle.
