Ara/ Patna: Six people, including four members of a family, died in a road accident in Bhojpur, while returning from the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. The crash occurred early on Friday near a petrol pump at Dulhanganj market on the Ara-Mohania National Highway, about 40 km from Patna.
The victims were travelling in a Baleno car when it crashed into a stationary truck from behind. The impact was so severe that the car was completely mangled, with one of its wheels found 20 feet away. All six occupants were trapped inside, and their bodies were recovered after considerable effort.
According to the police, the driver, 25-year-old Lal Babu Singh, had reportedly dozed off at the wheel, leading to the fatal collision. The victims were identified as Sanjay Kumar (62), his wife Karuna Devi (58), their son Lal Babu Singh, and their niece Priyam Kumari (20), all residents of Jakkanpur, Patna. Also among the deceased were Asha Kiran (28) and Juhi Rani (25) from Kumhrar, Patna.
Jagdishpur police station sub-inspector Aftab Khan said: “We were informed by locals about an accident near the Dulhanganj petrol pump. When we arrived, we saw that a car had crashed into the back of a truck. We initially hoped there might be survivors. A crane was called to separate the vehicles, but upon inspection, we found that all six passengers had died. The car’s airbags had deployed.”
The victims were part of a 13-member group that had travelled from Patna to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh on February 19. They were returning in two vehicles—six in the Baleno and seven in a Scorpio. Kaushalendra, the brother of deceased Sanjay Kumar, said: “Lal Babu had dozed off once before during the trip, and we had advised him not to drive. Unfortunately, the accident happened while returning.”
