A major highway accident was narrowly averted from turning fatal late Wednesday night when a tour bus carrying travelers overturned on National Highway-19 in Bihar's Aurangabad district. The mishap took place near Siris within the jurisdictional limits of the Barun police station. A total of 13 passengers sustained injuries during the crash. Fortunately, no deaths were recorded, and medical officials confirmed that all victims are currently stable and recovering from their injuries.
Driver Drowsiness Triggered Highway Rollover
The passengers aboard the ill-fated vehicle were residents of Sonamukhi in the Bankura district of West Bengal. The group had embarked on a sightseeing trip, traveling all the way from Kolkata toward Agra. As the bus negotiated a stretch of National Highway-19 near Siris village during the late night hours of Wednesday, the driver reportedly suffered a momentary spell of sleepiness. The brief lapse in driver attention caused the vehicle to lose stability, resulting in the bus veering out of control and flipping over onto the highway tarmac.
Swift Local Intervention and Emergency Response
The loud impact of the vehicle crashing against the road startled nearby villagers and commuters, who hurried to the scene to assist. Recognizing the severity of the situation, local residents alerted the Barun police station while also dialing the 112 emergency response network. Police personnel alongside the emergency response unit dispatched teams immediately. Working in coordination with local volunteers, emergency responders managed to pull out frightened and trapped passengers through the vehicle's doors and shattered windows, safely evacuating everyone from the wreckage.
Details of Injured Passengers Admitted for Care
All 13 injured individuals were promptly transported to Sadar Hospital in Aurangabad, where medical staff administered emergency care. Attending doctors reported that none of the victims suffered life-threatening trauma. The official list of injured travelers includes
- Rita Sutodhar: 50 years old
- Dilip Bundu: 60 years old
- Hira Bundu: 58 years old
- Shefali Bhui: 60 years old
- Jhana Babri: 60 years old
- Nemai Shishta: 68 years old
- Rautan Mandal: 60 years old
- Sonamukhi: 55 years old
- Malavati Ghosh: 50 years old
- Mahabali Uraon: 60 years old
- Chand Sutodhar: 50 years old
- Murali Karak: 62 years old
- Sheikh Ashraf: 45 years old (Bus Helper/Cleaner)
Official Investigation Findings and Recovery Operations
Providing details on the incident, Barun Police Station In-charge Ranjit Kumar stated that preliminary inquiries confirm driver drowsiness as the main factor leading to the mishap. The officer added that after receiving necessary medical attention at Sadar Hospital, all victims were escorted to a safe environment. Although the accident briefly caused confusion and traffic slowdowns along the stretch of National Highway-19, quick action by law enforcement and local citizens helped restore order and clear the roadway.
