Four killed, seven injured in Araria hit-and-run accident

Araria: Four people died and seven others sustained serious injuries in a road accident on NH-57 near Araria Biodiversity Park around 11am in Araria district on Wednesday. The injured were taken to Sadar hospital, where they are undergoing treatment. Police recovered the bodies and sent them for post-mortem.

According to police, an SUV heading towards Purnia at high speed first hit a cyclist, Mohd Akhtar, a resident of Gaiyari village under Araria police station. The impact threw him across the road divider, causing his instant death.

In a bid to flee, the SUV driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle. The SUV jumped the divider and landed on the roof of a car coming from the opposite direction towards Araria from Purnia. The collision crushed the car, killing three occupants on the spot.

The deceased were identified as Gautam Jha, Mayanand Jha and Shanti Devi, all residents of Bishanpur village under Amour police station in Purnia district.

Araria SDPO Sushil Kumar reached the spot with police personnel soon after receiving information. He supervised the rescue operation, arranged ambulances, ensured the injured were shifted to hospital and seized the damaged vehicles.

Following the accident, a large number of villagers gathered at the spot and briefly disrupted traffic on NH-57. Protesters alleged delay in ambulance and administrative response.

The SDPO pacified the crowd and restored order. “Further investigation is underway to ascertain the cause of the accident and identify the SUV driver,” he added.