Hajipur: A speeding truck drove into a religious procession in Bihar's Vaishali district on Sunday evening. At least 12 people including four children were killed and several others were injured.
The incident took place around 9 pm when the procession was in front of a peepal tree. Devotees were offering prayers to Bhumiya baba, a local deity. The procession was part of a custom associated with marriages.
Nine people died on the spot and three others were lost to injuries on the way to the hospital. Injured victims who are in critical states are being referred to hospitals in Patna. The accident took place about 30 km from the state capital. RJD MLA Mukesh Roushan rushed to the area. The site of the incident falls under his Mahua assembly constituency. He said many injured have been taken to the Sadar hospital at Hajipur (the district headquarters).
Vaishali Superintendent of Police Manish Kumar said the driver of the truck speeding through the adjacent Mahnar-Hajipur highway lost control. "He is stuck inside the mangled vehicle and we fear that he might have died." People were seen standing near their dear ones and wailing. Many others were angry that the police arrived only after a delay. "We have summoned personnel from a number of adjoining police stations to speed up the rescue work and keep the law and order situation under control," added Kumar.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed grief and asked the district administration to ensure proper treatment of the injured. He also ordered the speedy disbursement of compensation to the family of each victim. Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav also offered his condolences to the families.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that the accident in Vaishali is saddening. He offered condolences to the bereaved families and wished for the quick recovery of the injured. Offering compensation, he said: "An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF (Prime Minister's National Relief Fund) would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000."