PATNA: Five people were killed after a speeding car ran over a group of devotees performing kirtan by the roadside on NH-327E in Bihar’s Supaul district late on Tuesday night, police said.The accident occurred near Kataiya Chowk under the Pipra police station area when the car, travelling from the Pipra side, allegedly went out of control and rammed into the gathering.Three victims — Tilo Das, Rajo Das and Surendra Yadav — died on the spot. The injured were rushed to Sadar Hospital for treatmentTwo other injured persons were undergoing treatment, while one of them, Krishna Shah, was referred to a higher medical centre for advanced care. Later, two more victims succumbed to their injuries, taking the death toll to five.The incident sparked panic and chaos in the area, with locals gathering at the spot and blocking the highway in protest. Police personnel reached the scene and tried to calm the protesters while restoring traffic movement.The deaths also triggered grief and anger among the victims’ families. Relatives created a commotion at Sadar Hospital as news of the fatalities spread.JDU MLA from Supaul Ramvilas Kamat described the incident as tragic and said authorities were examining the circumstances that led to the accident.He stated, “It’s a distressing event. Whenever a society experiences such a sudden loss of five lives, it deeply impacts everyone. The community is devastated, and our hearts go out to the affected families. We’ve communicated with the authorities and are personally and socially investigating the causes, looking for any negligence or errors. Those responsible will face consequences. Our priority is to support the families, ensuring they receive justice and the necessary assistance from both government and social channels. We’re fully committed to this cause.”He added that the anger among local residents was understandable and assured strict action against those found responsible.“The public’s anger is understandable; we’re all grieving and upset. I’ve been in contact with officials since last night, and they’ve been taking prompt action. I’ve also spoken with high-ranking officers, and we’ll ensure there’s no leniency. Whoever’s negligence led to this will be held accountable,” he said.A family member of one of the victims spoke about the tragedy and sought justice.“It happened so suddenly. We were just together, and then they were gone. It’s a loss we can’t even describe. We need help and justice for our family,” said a member of the family.Police have launched an investigation and are working to ascertain the exact circumstances that led to the collision.(With Agency Inputs)
