8 killed in Banka road accident

Banka: At least eight persons were killed and three others seriously injured when a speeding truck hit a three-wheeler near Kaitha Kura Bahadiya Mod under Katoria police station in Banka district early on Tuesday. The injured persons are undergoing treatment at Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College and Hospital in Bhagalpur.

Police said the accident occurred when a group of pilgrims was on way to Deoghar after collecting holy water from the Ganga at Siri Ghat, Sultanganj, to pay obeisance to Lord Shiva.

A speeding truck coming from opposite direction hit an overcrowded three-wheeler carrying the pilgrims, killing six persons on the spot. The two others succumbed to their injuries at Banka referral hospital. The driver of the truck fled from the spot after the accident.

The victims have been identified as Gudia Devi, 45, Radhika Devi, 40, Rajendra Yadav, 60, Bhuria Devi, 55, Chobha Yadav, 55, Dharmeshwar Yadav, 50, Mekha Devi, 35 and Thakur Yadav, 50.

SHO of Katoria police station Pravesh Kumar Bharti said bodies of the victims were sent to Banka hospital for postmortem.