15 dead as bus runs into puja pandal in Sitamarhi

Patna, September 18: Fifteen persons, including five children, were crushed to death by a speeding bus at Bathnaha in Sitamarhi on Wednesday night. The accident took place at around 12.30 pm when a bus, on its way to Sursand in Nepal, from Patna lost control near Tandaspur-Rupauli village on NH-104 and entered a roadside puja pandal killing 15 persons and injuring 12. Most deceased were aged below 30. A group of around 30 people were watching a religious programme on TV at the pandal on the occasion of Vishwakarma puja.

Sitamarhi SP Ajitabh Kumar said the bus driver and cleaner fled after the incident, leaving behind the bus. Kumar said the bus could not move further because some bodies were stuck on its wheels. A case of negligence and rash driving has been lodged against the driver and the bus impounded. “We will soon locate the bus owner and arrest the driver. Drunken driving might have caused the accident,” the SP said.

Over a dozen injured people are being treated at Muzaffarpur hospital and at private nursing homes in Sitamarhi. At least five people have suffered multiple fractures.

The Bihar Government has announced a compensation of Rs 1.5 lakh to next of kin.

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