Patna: Five people were killed and several others injured late on Friday when a bus travelling to Bettiah from Gorakhpur ploughed into a crowd attending a roadside cultural programme in Parau Tola, Lauriya police station area of West Champaran district, officials said on Saturday.
Police: bus veered to avoid truck, crowd hit
Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Ajay Prakash Singh said the mishap occurred at about 10.45 pm while the bus was attempting to avert a head-on collision with a truck. In the process, the bus mounted the roadside and struck people gathered for the event, creating a stampede-like situation.
“While trying to avert a head-on collision with a truck, the bus ploughed through a crowd attending a cultural event on the roadside, killing five men and injuring several others,” SDPO Ajay Prakash Singh said, according to PTI.
Police identified the deceased as Bahadur Mahto, Sanjay Kumar, Bhola Dubey, Devender Dubey and Jhangur Ram. The programme had been organised on the occasion of the chhathi (after-birth ritual) of Devender Dubey’s daughter, PTI reported.
Casualties, medical care and post-mortem
Authorities said several people were injured; one person is in critical condition at a medical facility in Lauriya. The injured were shifted for treatment and the deceased were taken for post-mortem examination.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Time of incident | About 10.45 pm on Friday |
| Location | Lauriya Marg, Parau Tola (Lauriya PS), West Champaran |
| Vehicle origin and destination | Bus from Gorakhpur (UP) to Bettiah |
| Fatalities | 5 (all men) |
Drivers fled; vehicles seized
Police said both the bus and the truck involved in the incident have been seized. The drivers fled from the scene amid the chaos, and a manhunt was launched to locate them, PTI reported.
- Vehicle seized: Bus and truck taken into police custody
- Investigation: Manhunt under way for the drivers
- Immediate cause: Police say bus swerved to avoid collision with truck
The seizure of the vehicles will form part of the ongoing inquiry. Police have not yet disclosed whether breathalyser or mechanical inspection reports have been sought; investigators are expected to record statements from survivors and eyewitnesses as the probe continues.
Political reaction and relief direction
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed grief over the deaths and conveyed condolences to the bereaved families in a social media post reported by PTI. He directed officials to ensure that those injured receive proper medical attention.
“The news of the death of several people in the Lauriya police station area of West Champaran district is extremely tragic. May God give a place to the departed souls in his feet and provide enough strength to the kin to brave the loss,” the Chief Minister said, according to PTI.
Local residents and community leaders in Parau Tola expressed shock at the loss of life during a private religious ceremony. Roadside cultural programmes are common in parts of rural Bihar, particularly for family and life-cycle events; crowding near narrow stretches of highway increases vulnerability when heavy vehicles pass at night.
What happens next
Police said the bodies were sent for post-mortem and legal formalities will follow. The probe will aim to establish the sequence of events that led the bus to mount the roadside, whether speed, driver error, or mechanical issues played a role, and why the drivers fled. Charges may include culpable homicide not amounting to murder if negligence is established, but formal FIR details were not released at the time of reporting.
Further updates are expected as investigators complete vehicle examinations and file charges. Meanwhile, officials have been urged to improve safety measures along busy rural stretches where public gatherings are held close to roadways.
This report is based on PTI dispatches filed from Patna and West Champaran district police statements as reported.
