Baharagora (Jharkhand): A tragic road accident on National Highway-18 in Baharagora, East Singhbhum district, claimed the lives of three people, including a mother and daughter, late Thursday night.
Police said a Maruti Swift car (WB 51 C 7151), returning from Kolkata to Jamshedpur, was hit from behind by a speeding truck. The impact was so severe that the car got wedged into the rear of the truck and was completely mangled. All three occupants — driver Ganesh Rai (50), Kusumita Patnaik (55), and her daughter Monika Patnaik (28) — died on the spot. The victims belonged to the same family.
Eyewitnesses reported that the crash sound was so loud that nearby residents rushed to the scene. Police, assisted by NHAI’s ambulance service and locals, struggled to separate the mangled car from the truck before retrieving the bodies. The remains were later sent to Ghatsila Sub-Divisional Hospital for post-mortem.
Preliminary investigation suggests overspeeding and negligence by the truck driver, who fled the scene after the collision. Authorities are reviewing CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts to trace him.
The incident has once again raised concerns over the safety of NH-18, where multiple fatal accidents have occurred in the past. Locals allege that poor enforcement of traffic rules and inadequate safety measures are contributing to the rising number of crashes on this stretch.
