Bihar: Speeding Truck Rams Into Crowd In Vaishali, 12 Killed. PM Modi Announces Rs 2 Lakh Ex-Gratia

According to reports, people were assembled at state Mahanar-Hajipur highway near Sultanpur to witness Puja procession of Bhuaiyan Baba. 

Representative Image ( Image Source :Getty Images )

New Delhi: At least twelve people were killed and several feared injured after a truck rammed into a roadside settlement in Mehnar of Vaishali district in Bihar on Sunday, news agency ANI reported.

According to reports, people were assembled at state Mahanar-Hajipur highway near Sultanpur to witness Puja procession of Bhuaiyan Baba. 

The injured people were immediately rushed to the Sadar Hospital in Hajipur for treatment.

After receiving information on the incident, senior police also rushed to the accident spot. The incident took place in Sultanpur 28 Tola area.

Local RJD MLA Mukesh Roushan, who had rushed to the spot, said "12 people died. Nine of them were killed on the spot. Three others succumbed to injuries while being rushed to a hospital."

Vaishali Superintendent of Police Manish Kumar said, "At least four of the deceased are children. The truck driver, whom we are trying to pull out of the mangled vehicle, may also have died."

Following the accident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the kin of the deceased and a compensation of Rs 50,000 to the injured.

The accident in Vaishali, Bihar is saddening. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 20, 2022

PM Modi also wished a speedy recovery to all those who were injured in the accident.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also expressed his condolences, and said he is "deeply saddened" by the accident.

The chief minister gave instructions to provide ex-gratia to the families of the deceased as prescribed in standard procedure. Kumar also asked all the authorities concerned to administer proper treatment to all the injured and wished for their speedy recovery.

Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav also took to Twitter and wrote in Hindi, "Deeply saddened by the heartbreaking news of the death of several people in a road accident in Hajipur tonight. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and wish the injured a speedy recovery. May God give peace to the departed souls and strength to their families to bear this loss."

आज रात्रि हाजीपुर में एक सड़क दुर्घटना में कई लोगों की मृत्यु की हृदयविदारक खबर से मर्माहत हूँ। शोक संतप्त परिजनों के प्रति अपनी गहरी संवेदना व्यक्त तथा घायलों के शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने कामना करता हूँ। ईश्वर दिवंगत आत्माओं की शांति व उनके परिजनों को यह दुःख सहने की शक्ति प्रदान करें।

— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) November 20, 2022

In a similar incident last month, a bus rammed into a stationary truck in the Vaishali district in Bihar. Two people were killed in the accident, while 20 others sustained injuries.

The incident took place in Hajipur on October 27. According to reports, the truck was parked by the roadside after it developed a snag. The bus lost control and rammed into the truck.