Nine lives were lost in a tragic road accident in Purulia, West Bengal, early Friday morning. The victims, all residents of Jharkhand, were returning home after attending a wedding in Balrampur, Purulia, when their car collided head-on with a truck on National Highway 18 near Namshol.
The crash was brutal. The Bolero vehicle, carrying all nine passengers, reportedly lost control and rammed into a truck coming from the opposite direction. The truck driver, in a desperate attempt to avoid the crash, swerved off the road and overturned in a nearby paddy field—but it was too late.
By the time police from Balrampur station arrived, the damage was already done. All passengers were pulled from the wreckage and rushed to the Banshgarh Block Health Centre. Sadly, the doctor on duty declared all nine people “brought dead”.
All Victims Were From Jharkhand
The deceased have been identified as Vijay Mahato, Swapan Mahato, Ajay Mahato, Brihaspati Mahato, Gurupada Mahato, Shashank Mahato, Krishna Mahato, Chandramohan Mahato, and the car’s driver Chittaranjan Mahato.
Most of them hailed from the Tilaitar area under Nimdi police station in Jharkhand. Chandramohan was from Raghunathpur, while Chittaranjan, the driver, was from Muru. Their bodies were sent for post-mortem at Purulia Medical College.
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Another Deadly Reminder
Just a few days ago, a similar tragedy struck Purba Medinipur, where five people lost their lives after a car collided with an autorickshaw near the Irinchi Bridge. They too were returning home—this time for Eid—from Delhi.
These incidents are grim reminders of how unsafe Indian highways remain, especially during night travel. Whether it’s poor lighting, reckless speed, or sheer fatigue, the roads are claiming lives far too often.
This Purulia tragedy has sent shockwaves across both Jharkhand and West Bengal. Families who had just celebrated a happy occasion are now mourning loved ones who never made it back home. The pain is unimaginable.
What’s Next?
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident. But many are questioning why safety protocols on national highways remain so weak. Shouldn’t night travel in risky terrains like Purulia be regulated more strictly?
As India modernizes, its roads still carry third-world dangers. And until there’s stronger policy enforcement and driver awareness, accidents like this will keep stealing futures.
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