J’khand: 17 killed, 26 hurt as bus collides with truck
Dense fog lead to accident, PM, Prez offer condolences
Pakur, Jan. 5: Seventeen people were killed and 26 others injured in a headon collision between a bus and a truck transporting gas cylinders in Jharkhand’s Pakur district on Wednesday morning, the police said.
The accident happened around 8.30 am on the Govindpur-Sahibganj state highway at Paderkola village in Amrapara police station area.
The bus with around 40 passengers on board was heading to Jasidih in Deoghar district from Barharwa in Sahibganj.
Several people trapped inside the bus are being brought out after dismantling the vehicle with gascutters, the police said.
Heavy fog in the area could be the reason behind the accident, they said, adding, none of the gas cylinders on the truck exploded.
The toll could rise, a police officer said.
The district administration has announced an exgratia amount of `1 lakh each for the kith and kin of those killed in the accident.
“The death toll in the accident has increased to 17, while the number of injured is 26. At least three of them are critical,” civil surgeon of Pakur R.D. Paswan said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said an exgratia of `2 lakh each would be given to the next of kin of those who died, and `50,000 to those injured.
“I am anguished by the bus accident in Pakur, Jharkhand. In this sad hour, condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon.
“An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of those who lost their lives in an accident in Pakur. The injured would be given `50,000,” Mr Modi tweeted.
President Ram Nath Kovind also expressed grief over the accident and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
“The news of the death of many people in a road accident on LittipadaAmdapara road in Pakur, Jharkhand is very sad. I express my deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones in this accident, and wish the injured a speedy recovery,” the Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a tweet.