Five killed in collision between truck and auto-rickshaw in Bihar

Patna: At least five people were killed on the spot and two others seriously injured in a head-on collision between an auto-rickshaw and a truck in Bihar’s Sheikhpura district on Tuesday.

The accident occurred near Maninda village on the Sheikhpura-Sikandra road, which is part of National Highway 33A. Sheikhpura District Superintendent of Police Baliram Kumar Chaudhary confirmed the accident and said the bodies have been sent to Sadar Hospital for post-mortem, where the process is underway. The SP said the collision was so severe that the auto-rickshaw was completely damaged, forcing rescuers to use a JCB machine to retrieve the bodies trapped inside.

Eyewitnesses reported that the auto-rickshaw was heading towards Sheikhpura town when a truck, reportedly coming at high speed from the wrong direction, lost control and hit the passenger vehicle. Due to the collision, the three-wheeler was thrown several feet off the road. There were a total of seven passengers in the auto-rickshaw. Police said locals immediately rushed to the scene, pulled out the injured, and informed authorities.

Police teams from the Barbigha and Sheikhpura police stations arrived, cordoned off the area, and cleared traffic. All the seriously injured were also taken to Sadar Hospital, but were later referred to a higher medical center in Pawapuri due to their critical condition.

This tragic incident sparked widespread anger in the area. Residents accused the administration of negligence, saying such accidents often occur due to speeding, driving in the wrong lane, overloaded vehicles, and poor road monitoring. They demanded strict action and better regulation of heavy vehicles on the highway.

The families of the deceased were devastated by the news of the sudden loss. The district administration has launched a detailed investigation to determine whether the truck driver was driving recklessly or whether his negligence caused the accident. Officials are also considering providing compensation to the families of the deceased. Further investigations are underway.