Two killed as trucks collide and catch fire near Giridih toll plaza

A tragic road accident in Jharkhand’s Giridih district claimed two lives on Thursday morning after three trucks collided and caught fire near a toll plaza.

According to officials, the incident occurred near Kulgo toll plaza under the Dumri police station area when a speeding truck coming from Bagodar lost control. It rammed into two trucks parked along the roadside, including one loaded with coal. The impact triggered a massive blaze in the cabins of the vehicles.

The fire spread rapidly, engulfing the trucks within minutes. A driver and a cleaner, trapped inside one of the vehicles, were unable to escape and were burnt alive.

Eyewitnesses said the intensity of the flames made it impossible for locals to approach the trucks despite attempts to rescue those trapped and douse the fire.

Two trucks were completely destroyed in the incident, while the third suffered partial damage.

Police and fire brigade teams from Dumri rushed to the spot and managed to bring the fire under control after considerable effort. The charred bodies of the victims were later recovered from the wreckage.

Another truck driver sustained serious injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital, where his condition is said to be critical.

Sumit Prasad, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Dumri, said preliminary findings suggest overspeeding and negligence as the likely cause of the accident.

Authorities have initiated a detailed investigation to determine the exact sequence of events and fix responsibility. Traffic movement in the area was restored after the damaged vehicles were cleared from the road.

With inputs from IANS