In the early hours of Monday, a Magic carrying a corpse for a funeral was booked in front of a truck at Varanasi Alinagar police station area in the city on NH-19, causing a tragic traffic accident. It was around 1:30 am at the time of the halting, injuring 17 people, including four in critical condition.
Police officials said that everyone in the car lived in Bhagwanpur division of Bihar’s state district of Bhabua. The accident happened near the village of Bhikharipur to them while they were travelling to Varanasi to do the last rites of a family member in the village.
The speeding Magic car, in turn, lost control as it slammed into a truck traveling on NH-19, according to police. The effect of the crash was very destructive, smashing the front of the car entirely. The scene of the accident was filled with panic and chaos as the passengers began to shout for help in the darkness.
Upon receiving the information about the incident, local police teams with the NHAI helpline team came to the spot, and immediately, rescue operations were initiated. Rescuers had trouble extricating the injured passengers, who were trapped in the injured vehicle. An ambulance was brought to the spot, and all victims were picked up and rushed to Pandit Kamlapati Tripathi District Hospital at Varanasi.
17 were rushed in, of whom nine were admitted with injuries and eight suffered from heatstroke, said Dr. Ajay Kumar Singh, Emergency Medical Officer at the district hospital. Two people were injured, but 15 others were seriously injured. After primary treatment, four passengers were taken to BHU Trauma centre in Varanasi who were seriously injured. In Varanasi, four passengers were taken for further treatment at the BHU Trauma Centre after they were treated in their initial condition.
Both the Magic and the truck have been arrested, and an investigation into the accident is underway. Preliminary findings indicate overspeeding and loss of control as potential causes. Authorities also suspect that the driver may have dozed off while driving.