Patna, Sep 2 (IANS) A bus driver was killed, and around 50 passengers were injured after two buses collided head-on on the Muzaffarpur-Sitamarhi National Highway (NH-22) in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district on Wednesday.
The accident occurred near Bedaul/Gopalpur, under the jurisdiction of Aurai police station, at around 3 p.m.
The collision was so severe that the driver of one of the buses became trapped inside the vehicle.
Following the accident, police reached the spot and, with the assistance of local residents, used a cutting machine to break open part of the damaged bus and rescue the trapped driver.
However, he had already succumbed to his injuries.
The deceased was identified as Sujit Kumar, a resident of Sitamarhi.
Police took custody of the body and sent it to Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) for post-mortem examination.
Around 50 passengers travelling on the two buses were injured in the collision.
Several sustained serious injuries and were referred to SKMCH for further treatment, while others received treatment at nearby healthcare facilities. Their condition was reported to be out of danger.
The crash triggered panic at the spot, with passengers calling for help immediately after the collision.
Local villagers rushed to the scene and helped rescue passengers trapped inside the damaged buses.
More than half a dozen passengers reportedly sustained serious injuries.
The accident also caused significant disruption on NH-22, with long queues of vehicles forming on the highway.
Police personnel from Aurai police station reached the scene, managed the situation and arranged for the damaged buses to be removed from the road, subsequently restoring traffic movement.
Aurai police station in-charge Sushil Kumar said the accident involved a head-on collision between the ‘Girja bus’ and the ‘Sanovar bus’.
According to eyewitnesses, both buses were travelling at high speed when they collided.
“A severe head-on collision occurred between the Girja bus and the Sanovar bus around 3 p.m. on Wednesday. The driver of the Girja bus died after becoming trapped inside the vehicle. Several passengers sustained injuries in the incident,” Sushil Kumar said.
Police have begun an investigation to determine the exact circumstances that led to the crash.
Officials said technical analysis of the speed of the two buses and other factors would be carried out as part of the investigation.
–IANS
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