Sahibganj/Ranchi: Jharkhand witnessed a series of tragic road accidents over the past 24 hours, resulting in the deaths of seven people and injuries to several others, officials reported on Friday. These incidents occurred in different districts, highlighting persistent road safety challenges in the state.

Head-On Collision Claims Three Lives in Sahibganj

The deadliest of these accidents took place near Chhota Ranga Dand Bridge on the Barhait-Barharwa Main Road, where an auto-rickshaw collided head-on with an oil tanker, killing three people, including a schoolgirl.

Barharwa Sub-Divisional Police Officer Nitin Khandelwal said the auto-rickshaw was travelling from Barhait to Barharwa when it collided with the tanker coming from the opposite direction.

The victims were identified as Samra Sah, a resident of Bara Ranga village; Randani Soren of Ghatiari; and Shanti Hembrom, a schoolgirl from Dahujor. The driver of the oil tanker fled the scene, leaving the vehicle behind.

Several passengers sustained injuries and were admitted to the community health centre in Ranga for treatment. Police have initiated investigations to trace the tanker driver.

Two Killed in Bike Accident in Palamu

In Dumri village, Palamu district, a separate accident claimed the lives of two individuals when the motorcycle they were riding skidded off the road.

Lesliganj SDPO Manoj Kumar Jha reported that the victims, Manoj Turi and Prem Bharti, both residents of Kasmar village in Chatra district, were declared dead at Medinirai Medical College Hospital (MMCH), where the two injured passengers are receiving treatment. Their condition is stated to be stable.

Speeding Car Kills Biker in Ranchi

In Ranchi, a 26-year-old motorcyclist, Vivek Kumar Tirkey of Lanka Colony near Birsa Chowk, died after being hit by a speeding car near a fuel refill station on Thursday night.

Jagannathpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Digvijay Singh said the driver of the car fled the scene, abandoning the vehicle a short distance away. Tirkey was rushed to RIMS but succumbed to injuries en route. CCTV footage from the petrol pump helped police identify the driver, and a search operation is ongoing to apprehend him.

Car-Truck Collision Kills Youth in Godda

In Godda district, a head-on collision between a car and a truck along Bhatonda Highway, within Poraiyahat police station limits, resulted in the death of a young man.

Godda DSP JPN Choudhary said three people were traveling in the car at the time. Niranjan Mirdha, a resident of Haripur in Godda, died in the accident. The driver sustained serious injuries and was referred to Bhagalpur Hospital in Bihar, while the third occupant escaped uninjured.

Road Safety Concerns

These accidents underscore ongoing concerns regarding road safety in Jharkhand, particularly on highways and rural roads where speeding, reckless driving, and inadequate road infrastructure contribute to fatalities. Local police have called for increased vigilance, stricter enforcement of traffic rules, and public awareness campaigns to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Authorities have urged citizens to follow traffic regulations, avoid speeding, and ensure proper safety measures such as helmets and seat belts. Meanwhile, investigations into the incidents involving fleeing drivers are underway, and efforts are being made to locate and prosecute those responsible.

The spate of accidents has sparked concern among local communities, highlighting the urgent need for improved road safety measures, traffic management, and emergency response systems to reduce casualties on Jharkhand’s roads.

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