A tragic road accident occurred near Sarath in Jharkhand’s Deoghar district on Tuesday morning, claiming the lives of six Kanwariyas and injuring at least 26 others. The bus, which was carrying pilgrims from Bihar’s Nawada district, was en route to Basukinath Dham after completing Jalabhishek rituals in Deoghar. The cause of the accident has been attributed to over-speeding and the driver allegedly falling asleep at the wheel.

High-Speed Crash Claims Lives of Devotees

The private bus was packed with pilgrims traveling from Akbarpur, Hisua, and Pakribarawan blocks of Nawada. According to eyewitnesses and passengers, the vehicle was moving at high speed when the driver lost control. Reports indicate he dozed off momentarily, leading the bus to collide with a truck, mount a stone pile, and finally crash into a stack of bricks on the roadside. Most of the passengers were asleep during the accident, intensifying the chaos that followed.

Following the incident, local police and administrative teams reached the spot and initiated rescue operations. The injured were taken to Deoghar Sadar Hospital and Basukinath Sub-Health Centre. Those with severe injuries were referred to Ranchi for specialized treatment. District authorities have confirmed that the bus belonged to a group from Nawada and was headed toward Basukinath after stopping at Deoghar for religious rituals.

Survivor’s Account Highlights Lack of Immediate Help

Sunil Kumar, one of the injured passengers, recounted the horror. He said a large stone appeared suddenly on the road, leading to the driver losing control. The bus then smashed into a brick pile. While he managed to escape the wreckage, his wife, Suman Kumari, was trapped inside the mangled vehicle for over an hour. With no immediate help available, she succumbed to her injuries. “If the villagers had acted faster, she might have survived,” he said with a heavy heart.

Accident-Prone Kurseela Turn Once Again in News

The accident occurred at the notorious Kurseela bend, a stretch previously flagged for its danger. Locals, including Radheshyam Singh, Mohan Mahto, and Manoj Paswan, stated that this is not the first time such an incident has occurred at this spot. Another witness, Ramchandra Thakur, said he and others working in nearby fields heard a loud crash and rushed to the scene. “What we saw was horrifying. The bus was crushed against the bricks, with bloodied bodies and trapped passengers screaming for help,” he added. Locals immediately called the police and helped extract victims from the vehicle.

Safety Infrastructure Lacking Despite Previous Warnings

The absence of basic road safety measures at the accident site has now become a topic of heated discussion. Reena Devi, a local resident, expressed her frustration over the government’s negligence. “There are no speed breakers or warning signs at this dangerous curve. This accident could have been prevented if action was taken earlier,” she said. Shopkeeper Vijay Mandal echoed the sentiment, revealing that residents had already warned the authorities to enhance safety measures during the busy Kanwar Yatra season. “We asked for better monitoring and road safety steps, but nothing was done,” he added.

Administrative Response and Next Steps

District authorities have ordered a thorough investigation into the accident. Officials have started identifying the deceased and are informing their families. The government has promised compensation and further medical support for the injured. A probe will determine whether the driver was fit to operate the bus and whether the vehicle had passed safety checks prior to the journey.

In the meantime, the accident has reignited the debate over the lack of proper infrastructure on pilgrimage routes, especially during high-risk periods like the Kanwar Yatra. With large groups of devotees traveling long distances by road, the demand for stricter traffic regulations, driver vigilance checks, and better emergency response systems is louder than ever.

As the monsoon intensifies, road conditions across eastern India are expected to worsen. The Deoghar accident serves as a grim reminder for all stakeholders, from transport authorities to drivers and pilgrims. Roads like the one near Sarath need urgent attention, and timely deployment of safety measures could save many lives in the coming days.

This tragedy underscores the need for improved coordination between transport operators and district administrations, especially during major festivals. While the spirit of devotion runs high during the Kanwar Yatra, basic safety should never be compromised.