20 injured as passenger bus collides with rice-laden truck in Birbhum, driver critical

A severe accident took place late Thursday night in Birbhum when a passenger bus collided with a rice-laden 16-wheeler truck on National Highway 14. The collision occurred near the Sri Ramakrishna Ashram, close to the Rani Ganj Morgram intersection in Mallarpur. The bus, traveling from Kharagpur to Siliguri, was carrying more than 60 passengers at the time. According to authorities, 20 passengers were injured, and the bus driver’s condition is critical.

The incident unfolded when the truck, which was traveling in the opposite direction, reportedly lost control and struck the bus head-on. The force of the collision caused significant damage to the front ends of both vehicles. Local residents were the first to arrive at the scene and began assisting with the rescue operations. Police and emergency teams soon followed, taking over the rescue and medical efforts. Fourteen of the injured passengers were taken to Rampurhat Medical College Hospital, while six others were sent to Mallarpur Block Primary Health Centre.

The bus driver, who was trapped in the wreckage, had to be extricated using a crane. His critical condition required immediate attention, and he was transported to Rampurhat Medical College Hospital for treatment. The identities of the other injured passengers have not been released, but it has been confirmed that four of the injured are women. Several personal items, including mobile phones, were lost in the aftermath of the crash.

The collision resulted in a complete disruption of traffic on National Highway 14. Police and local authorities worked through the night to clear the wreckage and restore vehicle movement. Traffic was halted for several hours while the damaged vehicles were separated and removed from the road. Authorities later confirmed that the road was cleared, and normal traffic resumed.

An investigation into the accident is currently underway. Authorities are focusing on determining the cause of the crash, with special attention on whether the truck's driver lost control due to mechanical failure, road conditions, or other contributing factors. Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.