Three people were killed and three others critically injured on Saturday, 25 July after an overloaded auto-rickshaw plunged into a roadside ditch and came into contact with a live low-tension (LT) overhead power line in Patna district, Bihar. The accident occurred near the Panchayat Sarkar Bhawan on the Ramji Chak–Bank road in Byapur village under the Maner police station area.

How the Accident Unfolded

According to eyewitnesses, the speeding auto-rickshaw grazed an oncoming car, causing the driver to lose control. The vehicle veered off the road and fell into a roadside ditch. At the time of the accident, ten passengers were travelling in the auto-rickshaw, which was reportedly overloaded.

Once the vehicle landed in the ditch, it came into contact with an overhead LT electricity line, resulting in electrocution. The incident triggered panic among the passengers and drew a large crowd of villagers to the scene.

Rescue Operations and Police Response

Local residents immediately alerted the Dial 112 emergency service and the Maner police. Upon arrival, police first coordinated with the electricity department to cut power to the overhead line before rescue operations could safely begin. With the help of villagers, the auto-rickshaw and victims were pulled out of the ditch.

Three passengers died at the scene, while three others sustained serious injuries. The remaining passengers were rescued by local residents without major harm.

Victims Identified

Maner Station House Officer (SHO) Rajnish Kumar confirmed the three fatalities. The deceased have been identified as Pramod Kumar, son of the late Banarasi Rai of Byapur village; Tuntun, son of Ramaikbal of Byapur village; and Panna Sao, son of Ratan Sao of Goraiyasthan. Their bodies were sent to Danapur for post-mortem examinations after completion of legal formalities.

Investigation Under Way

Police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the sequence of events leading to the loss of control and subsequent electrocution. Authorities are examining whether the overloading of the vehicle, the road condition, or the proximity of the LT line to the road contributed to the tragedy. Scenes of grief were witnessed at the accident site as family members of the victims arrived.

This incident underscores a recurring safety concern in rural Bihar — the dangerous proximity of low-tension power lines to road edges, which transforms otherwise survivable road accidents into fatal electrocution events. As the investigation proceeds, the focus is likely to shift to infrastructure accountability alongside road safety.