A serious road accident in Bihar’s Banka district has left more than 12 people injured, including several teachers, women, and children. The accident occurred early Monday morning near the Block Morh area on the Bounsi-Bhagalpur National Highway, when a speeding truck collided head-on with a passenger bus coming from the opposite direction.

The injured have been rushed to nearby hospitals, and several critically wounded victims were later referred to Bhagalpur Medical College and Hospital (BMCH) for advanced treatment. The accident once again highlights the rising number of road accidents in Bihar due to reckless driving and poor highway management.

How the Banka Road Accident Happened

According to eyewitnesses and police reports, the Rajlakshmi Ultra Bus, which was traveling from Deoghar in Jharkhand to Bhagalpur, had just crossed Bounsi Bazaar when a Hyva truck coming from the opposite direction rammed into it at Block Morh.

The truck driver lost control of the vehicle, veered into the wrong lane, and collided directly with the bus. The front of the bus was severely damaged, and passengers sitting near the cabin sustained the most serious injuries. Miraculously, a major disaster was averted due to the presence of mind shown by the bus driver, who attempted to slow down the vehicle just before impact.

Victims Include School Teachers and Bikers

Among those injured in the Banka road mishap were two female school teachers, one male teacher, and multiple motorcyclists who were passing by during the incident.

One of the injured, Shambhu Singh (64), father of the bus driver Roshan Singh, suffered serious injuries. Another victim, Prem Kumar (35), a school teacher from Shyampur, was riding his motorcycle at the time of the collision and was severely injured when he braked suddenly to avoid the crash.

Both were immediately taken to Bounsi Referral Hospital, and after initial treatment by Dr. Ranjan Kumar, they were referred to Bhagalpur for specialized care.

Children and Women Among the Injured

Several families from Jharkhand were traveling on the bus and were among the victims of the crash. The list includes:

• Ganesh Kumar (4), son of Vishnu Chaudhary from Diggi village, Jharkhand

• Reeta Devi (22), wife of Vishnu Chaudhary

• Kailash Pandit (40), son of Kamal Pandit from Lilladah village under Poraiyahat Police Station

• Doli Devi (30), wife of Tulsi Ram from Jasidih, Deoghar

• Khushboo (32), wife of Ashraf Ali Khan, also from Jasidih, and a teacher at Batsar High School in Dhoraiya

All of them sustained moderate to serious injuries in the collision and are currently undergoing treatment.

More Teachers Among the Victims

The accident also injured Nisha Kumari (25), wife of Chaudhary Charan Yadav from Bhurbhuri village, who is currently posted as a teacher in Rajaun. Additionally, Dinesh Prasad Yadav (66), son of the late Raghunath Sharma from Dalia village, and Vinod Kumar Yadav (47) from Teteria village were also hurt in the incident.

Vinod, who was riding his motorcycle from Maharana toward home, fell and sustained injuries while trying to avoid the crash, but he didn’t hesitate to help others. Witnesses say he showed immense courage by helping evacuate passengers from the wrecked bus, even though he was hurt himself.

Police Response and Traffic Restoration

As soon as the Bounsi Police Station received information, SI Vinaykant and Officer Gorakhnath arrived at the accident site and coordinated the emergency medical response. All injured individuals were transported via ambulance to the referral hospital.

To avoid a traffic jam on the busy highway, police quickly cleared both the bus and the truck from the road and restored traffic flow. Station House Officer (SHO) Sudhir Kumar confirmed that an investigation is underway, and initial reports point toward reckless driving and over-speeding by the truck driver.

Recurring Issue: Rising Road Accidents in Bihar

This is not the first time a major road accident has taken place on the Bounsi-Bhagalpur highway, which has seen a surge in traffic-related fatalities in recent months. Key reasons for such accidents include:

• Over-speeding heavy vehicles

• Poor road conditions and inadequate signage

• Lack of proper lane discipline

• Absence of speed breakers and traffic monitoring

In June alone, Bihar recorded over 500 road accidents, many of which occurred on national and state highways.

Public Outcry and Demand for Safety Measures

Local residents and commuters have expressed outrage and fear after the incident. They are urging the authorities to install speed monitoring cameras, construct speed breakers, and deploy more traffic police along this route.

“This is not the first accident on this highway. Every few days, someone dies or gets injured. We demand immediate government action before more lives are lost.”

Legal Action and Next Steps

The police have registered a case under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including:

• Section 279 – Rash driving

• Section 337/338 – Causing hurt by act endangering life

• Section 427 – Causing damage

• Section 304A (if fatalities are later reported) – Causing death by negligence

Authorities are currently working to identify the truck driver, who fled the scene immediately after the accident.

The Banka bus-truck collision is yet another tragic reminder of the dangers posed by irresponsible driving and lack of enforcement on Indian highways. The lives of over a dozen individuals have been thrown into chaos — many of whom were school teachers, women, and young children.