Motihari: What was meant to be a journey of faith and celebration has turned into a chapter of grief for several families in East Champaran. The bus accident in West Bengal’s Burdwan district on August 15, which claimed 11 lives and left many injured, has devastated homes in Motihari. Among the dead was 70-year-old Yogi Sah, whose family was preparing for his granddaughter’s wedding in November.
“Papa did not do anything, grandfather used to take care of us. He managed the expenses of the entire house. Now, after his death, who will bear the household costs? Who will get mummy treated?” asked Chandni, Yogi Sah’s granddaughter, her voice trembling as she recalled the horrific news.
For Chandni, the tragedy is not just about losing her grandfather. Her mother, who had accompanied him to Gangasagar, survived but sustained a broken leg. “I had spoken to mummy on the morning of August 15. She told me to take care of my siblings and promised to return soon. But just two hours later, the news came that grandfather had died in the accident and mummy was injured. How will we manage now?”
Faithful Journey Ends in Grief
The family’s pilgrimage was tied to joy. After Chandni’s marriage was fixed in July, Yogi Sah insisted on visiting Deoghar and Gangasagar to seek blessings for his granddaughter’s new life. Initially hesitant, Chandni’s mother agreed to accompany him. It was meant to be a sacred offering ahead of the wedding — instead, it became their final journey together.
On Friday morning, the bus carrying over 50 pilgrims rammed into a stationary truck on NH-19 after the driver reportedly dozed off. The front portion of the bus was mangled in the impact. Police said all the deceased were residents of the Chiraiya police station area in Motihari, from the villages of Sarsawa, Lalbegiya and Chiraiya. The passengers had started their journey on 8 August, visiting Deoghar first and then Gangasagar.
The bodies of the deceased, brought back in seven ambulances, arrived in Motihari on Sunday. As the coffins entered the villages, wails of grief filled the air. Not a single stove was lit in the houses that lost their loved ones. By afternoon, the last rites had been performed in the presence of hundreds of mourners.
‘Mother-in-law Was the Strength of the House’
The tragedy also struck the family of Sundar Kali Devi, another victim of the accident. As soon as her body reached Sarsawa village, chaos broke out. Her grandchildren cried inconsolably, rolling on the ground. “Now with whose support will we live?” was the repeated cry in the household.
Her daughter-in-law, Ruma Devi, described her as the backbone of the family. “My father-in-law is a simple man, and his five sons are also the same. Our mother-in-law ran the household. The children grew up in her lap. After her death, they are lying unconscious. We only hope the government will help us now,” she said.
The grief is collective. In Sarsawa village alone, four people died in the accident. Neighbours said these families were already struggling financially, relying heavily on elders like Yogi Sah and Sundar Kali Devi to keep things afloat. With marriages, children’s education, and daily expenses all dependent on them, the tragedy has left a vacuum that feels impossible to fill.
Administration Promises Help
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed condolences over the accident and announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh for the kin of each deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. Officials from the district administration have been visiting the bereaved families, assuring them of support.
Block Development Officers have begun collecting documents, including Aadhaar cards and bank account details, from the victims’ families so that compensation can be transferred once postmortem reports are received.
Meanwhile, in the lanes of Motihari’s villages, grief continues to echo. Chandni, whose marriage preparations had brought joy to her family just a month ago, now finds herself consumed by uncertainty. “How will I get married now? Who will take care of us? Who will treat mummy?” she asked, surrounded by relatives trying in vain to console her.
What was supposed to be a journey of devotion and hope has instead become a story of loss — one that has left an entire community grieving and searching for answers.
