35 injured as truck hits bus ferrying Nepalese pilgrims

Samastipur (Bihar), August 25

At least 35 Nepalese pilgrims suffered injuries when the bus in which they were travelling was hit by a speeding truck in Bihar’s Samastipur district in the wee hours of Sunday, the police said.

The bus from neighbouring Nepal fell on its side after the truck rammed into it at Musrigharari crossing on National Highway-28. The pilgrims were going to Deoghar district in Jharkhand to worship at a temple.

Most of the passengers suffered minor injuries and were discharged from a hospital after administering first aid, a police officer said.

“Only two passengers, who suffered serious injuries, were sent to another hospital for further treatment. They were also discharged later,” said Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Samastipur-Sadar-1, Sanjay Kumar Pandey.

According to eyewitnesses, the truck hit the bus from the rear.

“After receiving the information, the police reached the spot and rescued the passengers from inside the bus and took them to a hospital,” Pandey said.

Another police official said the injured pilgrims were residents of Muktipalia village in Bara district of Nepal.