Tragic Road Accident Claims Nine Lives in West Bengal: What Happened?

Devastating Collision in Purulia District

Kolkata: A tragic road accident in the Purulia district of West Bengal resulted in the deaths of nine individuals, all hailing from Jharkhand, on Friday morning.

The incident occurred when a passenger vehicle collided head-on with a trailer truck traveling in the opposite direction.

This unfortunate event took place on National Highway 18, which connects Purulia and Jamshedpur.

Reports indicate that the victims had traveled to the Barabazar area in Purulia for a wedding celebration on Thursday.

On Friday morning, they were returning to their home in Nimdih, Jharkhand.

As their vehicle approached the National Highway near the Balarampur Police station, it collided with the oncoming truck.

Eyewitness accounts describe the collision's force as so severe that the front of the passenger vehicle was completely crushed, trapping some passengers inside.

Local villagers quickly rushed to assist, initiating rescue efforts and managing to extract the bodies of those trapped.

Subsequently, a significant police presence arrived to aid in the rescue operations.

The nine victims were transported to the local Primary Health Centre, where they were pronounced dead by medical staff. Their bodies have been sent for autopsy.

Authorities have confiscated the truck involved in the accident, but the driver and his assistant have fled the scene.

The accident caused temporary traffic delays on the National Highway, but normal flow resumed shortly after police cleared the wreckage.

"We suspect that the driver of the passenger vehicle may have dozed off, leading to the collision. Additionally, the wet road conditions from ongoing rainfall since Thursday could have contributed to the accident," stated a police official.

The district Superintendent of Police confirmed that all nine deceased were from Jharkhand, although their identities have not yet been disclosed.