18 Kanwariyas Killed in Tragic Bus-Truck Collision in Jharkhand’s Deoghar

Ranchi: Eighteen Kanwariyas died and ten others sustained injuries in a horrific road accident near Jamuniya village in Deoghar district of Jharkhand on Tuesday.

The accident occurred amid the ongoing Shravani Mela, a religious period during which thousands of devotees carry holy water to offer at the Baba Baidyanath Dham temple.

Deoghar MP Nishikant Dubey confirmed the incident on X, saying, “In my constituency of Deoghar, 18 devotees died during the Kanwar Yatra in a tragic collision between a bus and a truck. May Baba Baidyanath give their families the strength to bear this grief.”

The collision happened in Mohanpur block, near a famous Shiva-Parvati temple by the Jamuniya River. A bus carrying about 35 devotees on their way to Baba Dham was hit head-on by a truck loaded with gas cylinders.

Eyewitnesses described a terrifying scene — the bus was torn apart by the impact, and the area echoed with cries for help.

Emergency responders, including police, ambulances, and the NDRF, reached the spot swiftly, rescuing the injured and recovering the bodies. The wounded were transported to nearby primary health centres and Deoghar Sadar Hospital. Some are reported to be in critical condition.

Authorities are verifying the identities of the deceased. Top officials from the district administration and police also visited the site and hospitals to oversee the situation.

A crane was used to clear the wreckage, and an investigation is underway to determine if driver negligence led to the tragedy.

With inputs from IANS