A tragic road accident took place early Tuesday morning in Deoghar district of Jharkhand. A bus carrying Kanwariyas (devotees) crashed into a truck, killing six people and injuring 24 others. The accident happened near Nawakura village, inside the Jamunia forest area, which comes under Mohanpur police station.
The bus was a private 32-seater vehicle and was taking pilgrims, mostly from Bihar to the famous Baba Baidyanath Dham temple for the Shravani Mela. This festival is held every year during the holy month of Shravan and attracts thousands of Kanwariyas from across the country.
As per officials, the accident happened around dawn. The bus suddenly hit a truck coming from the opposite side. The impact was very strong. Even after the crash, the bus kept moving for about 100 to 200 feet before crashing again into a stack of bricks on the roadside. The front part of the bus was completely damaged. People at the scene described it as terrifying scene with broken glass, damaged seats and cries of pain from the injured passengers.
Ravi Kumar, the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) of Deoghar said that the bus driver may have lost control of the vehicle. He might have fallen asleep while driving as it was very early in the morning. The driver, Subhash Turi, who lived in Mohanpur, died on the spot along with four others. Later, one more person died due to injuries bringing the total number of deaths to six.
Police and medical teams reached the spot quickly and began rescue work. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals. Eight of the seriously hurt were taken to AIIMS for better treatment while others are being treated at Deoghar Sadar Hospital. Officials said that those with minor injuries are doing better and may be sent home soon. If needed, seriously injured people may be shifted to Ranchi for advanced care.
Deoghar’s Deputy Commissioner, Naman Priyesh Lakra, confirmed the number of deaths and injuries. He said the district administration is doing its best to help the injured and their families. They are working closely with doctors to make sure everyone gets the care they need.
While the official death count is six, local Member of Parliament Nishikant Dubey posted on social media that 18 people may have died in the accident. He expressed his deep sorrow and prayed that Baba Baidyanath gives strength to the families who lost their loved ones.
In his tweet, Dubey wrote, “In my Lok Sabha constituency, Deoghar, 18 devotees have died during the Kanwar Yatra in the month of Shravan due to a collision between a bus and a truck. May Baba Baidyanath give their families the strength to bear this grief.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also shared his condolences on social media. He called the accident “extremely tragic” and offered prayers for the speedy recovery of all those who were hurt. He also expressed support to the families of those who died.
He said, “The road accident in Deoghar, Jharkhand, is extremely tragic. I express my deep condolences to the families of the devotees who lost their lives in it. May God give them the strength to bear this pain. Along with this, I pray for the speedy recovery of all the injured.”
This accident has left many people shocked, especially as it happened during the holy Kanwar Yatra. Every year, lakhs of pilgrims visit Baba Baidyanath Dham during this time. Now, the mood of celebration has turned into one of mourning. The local authorities have promised to find out what exactly went wrong and make sure steps are taken so that such accidents can be avoided in the future.
The families of the victims are going through a very painful time. This incident also reminds us how important it is to ensure safety, especially during long religious journeys. For now, the focus is on saving the lives of the injured and helping the families who are dealing with this sudden and heartbreaking loss.
