20 injured as truck hits bus in Bhojpur

Ara: At least 20 people, including a four-year-old boy and an 80-year-old man, were injured when a speeding truck struck a bus from behind on the Ara-Mohania National Highway at Haatpokhar village under the Jagdishpur police station area in Bhojpur district on Thursday morning.The force of the collision flung the bus into nearby bushes after it struck a tree on the side of the road. Police seized the truck, but the driver escaped.“The bus driver was trying to halt the bus on the side of the road to pick up some passengers when it was hit by a truck from behind,” said injured passenger Indrajeet Paswan, who, along with others, is undergoing treatment at Jagdishpur sub-divisional hospital in Dulaur.Dr Mukesh Kumar, the on-duty doctor, said, “About 20 injured passengers have been admitted here. One of them, Gopal Yadav, is seriously injured. We are referring him to Sadar hospital, Ara.”Later, more than 10 passengers were transferred to sadar hospital for specialised treatment.The hospital manager at Jagdishpur sub-divisional hospital said three ambulances were immediately dispatched to bring the injured passengers to the facility. Local villagers assisted in removing passengers from the bus while the Dial 112 police team and Jagdishpur police personnel reached the scene after being alerted by residents.Manish Kumar, 35, from Buxar district, was travelling with his wife and their four-year-old son, Utkarsh Kumar, when all three sustained injuries. Two examinees, Sakshi Kumari, 17, and Usha Kumari, were also hurt in the accident.