Patna: Three children died, while several others were injured when a truck hit an autorickshaw carrying school students of classes 2 to 5 of a private school in the Bihta police station area on Friday. The injured were rushed to a hospital. To protest the incident, an irate mob thrashed the truck driver and damaged several vehicles.
Police said a speeding truck hit the auto while the children were returning home from school. The irate mob caught the truck driver and thrashed him. They also blocked the vehicular traffic on the Danapur-Bihta road.
According to police, the auto was carrying children, all hailing from Bishambharpur village in Bihta police station area, from Bihta to Kanhauli. The two vehicles collided head-on near Bishanpura Baghicha. The crash was so severe that the auto was completely damaged.
The deceased were identified as Aarushi Kumari (8), daughter of Ranjan Singh, Abhishek Kumar (9), son of Brajesh Kumar and Prakash Kumar (6), son of Ranjan Kumar. The injured were Aniket Kumar, Radhika Kumari, Mahi Kumari, Tanvi Kumari, Ajay Kumar and others.
CM Nitish Kumar expressed sorrow over the tragic death of three children and directed the officials for the proper treatment of the injured people.
City SP (West), Sarath R S said, “There were 11 people on the autorickshaw, including the driver and 10 children. While three died on the spot, eight were injured. The injured were admitted to Patna AIIMS and other local hospitals. The truck was seized and the driver has been arrested.”
He said an irate mob vandalised the truck involved in the accident along with several other vehicles passing by and set a few on fire. To control the situation, police had to deploy forces from several police stations in the area, including Danapur, Bihta, and Maner. Local residents also used an earth mover to cut the road to block it, creating a massive traffic jam. The traffic was cleared in the evening.
Bihta SHO, Rajkumar Pandey, said that condition of child is critical and is being treated at Patna AIIMS.