In yet another shocking incident related to migrant labourers, nine people were killed in a road accident in Naugachia area of Bhagalpur in Bihar on Tuesday. A truck laden with iron rods girders and pipes collided with a bus and overturned on the highway. The incident took place around 6 am on NH 31 near the Kharik Bazar police station.
These labourers travelling on the top of the truck were crushed to death. Five people who were riding on the bus also got injured and rushed to a local hospital. The passengers sustained minor injuries and were later discharged after first aid. The bus was on its way to Banka from Darbhanga. Bhagalpur DIG Sujeet Kumar informed that the truck driver was absconding.
“We have established our contact with the truck’s owner. Soon we will be able to nab the driver,” he said. Sources say that the dead migrants had begun their journey from Kolkata, entered Bihar on bicycles and were headed to Motihari. They decided to board the truck in Katihar, about 80 km from Bhagalpur.
After the accident, the truck turned turtle and labourers were found buried under the debris. The administration had a tough time recovering dead bodies. From the Aadhaar Cards recovered from them, it became evident that they hailed from East and West Champaran districts.