Four passengers died and four others were injured in a bus crash on Gorakhpur Link Expressway
The bus, carrying around 50 passengers, was travelling from Delhi to Darbhanga in Bihar when it collided with the trailer. The bus was reportedly travelling at close to 100 kmph when the accident occurred. The rescue operation continued for around 40 minutes. One of the four deceased was identified as Sachin Kumar, 30, a resident of Bihar.
Police teams reached the spot soon after being alerted and, with the help of passers-by, launched a rescue operation. Police have launched efforts to trace them, while further investigation is underway to establish the exact sequence of events.
A preliminary investigation indicates that the bus driver may have fallen asleep while driving, resulting in the crash, according to Additional Superintendent of Police Tejveer Singh. Police said the exact cause of the accident would be determined after examining the damaged vehicles, collecting witness statements and establishing the circumstances surrounding the bus driver’s suspected drowsiness and the vehicle’s speed. Police suspect the bus driver may have dozed off at the wheel. The accident took place around 5am in the Jaitpur police station area, nearly 50km from the district headquarters. As several passengers were trapped inside the badly damaged bus, rescuers had to cut open parts of the vehicle and break its windows to pull them out. The bus driver, conductor and trailer driver reportedly fled the spot after the accident. Most of the passengers travelling on the bus were from Bihar. Police are working to establish the identities of the other three victims.