Jharkhand: 7 killed, several injured as bus falls off bridge in Hazaribag

The accident took place when the Ranchi-bound bus coming from Giridih district broke the railing of the bridge and fell into a dry spot in Siwanne River in Tatijharia Police Station area

At least seven people were killed and many others injured after a bus carrying around 50 passengers fell off a bridge in Jharkhand’s Hazaribag district on September 17, police said.

The accident took place when the Ranchi-bound bus coming from Giridih district broke the railing of the bridge and fell into a dry spot in Siwanne River in Tatijharia Police Station area, Superintendent of Police Manoj Ratan Chothe said.

“Two passengers died on the spot and five others succumbed to their injuries. The fatality figures may go up as several are seriously injured,” he said.

Several passengers were trapped inside the bus and they were rescued.

The damage could have been more had the bus fallen into water in the middle of the river, the officer said, adding an investigation is underway to ascertain the cause of the accident.

A DSP-rank officer and three police station in-charge were deputed to the spot to monitor the rescue operation, the SP added.

Mamta Saluja, a passenger who received minor injuries in the accident, said, “There were Sikh pilgrims in the bus going to a gurudwara in Ranchi’s Ratu area to participate in a religious function.”