Sheohar road accident: Chowkidar killed, SI critical after police jeep crash
Synopsis
A routine patrol in Sheohar, Bihar turned fatal on 8 August when a police jeep lost control near Singarhiya village and crashed into a tree. The vehicle was being driven by a chowkidar filling in for a regular driver — a staffing gap that cost him his life and left a sub-inspector in critical condition.
Key Takeaways
A police jeep crashed near Singarhiya village , Sheohar district , Bihar , on 8 August .
Chowkidar Ramji Rai , 45 , of Kamrauli village, was killed; he was driving the jeep due to a shortage of regular drivers.
Sub-Inspector Ashok Singh is in critical condition and is being transferred to SKMCH, Muzaffarpur for advanced treatment.
A woman constable in the vehicle reportedly escaped serious injury.
Sheohar SP Shailendra Kumar Singh visited the hospital and reviewed the circumstances of the accident.
Rai's body has been sent for post-mortem before being handed over to his family.
A police jeep crashed into a roadside tree near Singarhiya village under Piprahi police station in Sheohar district, Bihar, on Saturday, 8 August, killing a police chowkidar and leaving three personnel injured, one of them in critical condition. The accident occurred while the vehicle was returning from a routine patrol.
What Happened
The jeep, carrying Sub-Inspector Ashok Singh and other police personnel, was heading back to Piprahi police station after a patrol in Belwa village. Near Singarhiya village, the driver reportedly swerved to avoid an oncoming pedestrian, lost control, and the vehicle slammed into a tree. The collision severely damaged the jeep.
At the wheel was Ramji Rai, 45, a village watchman (chowkidar) from Kamrauli village under Piprahi police station. According to officials, Rai had been pressed into driving duty owing to a shortage of regular drivers at the station — a detail that raises questions about standard operating procedure.
The Deceased and the Injured
Residents near the accident site assisted in transporting the injured to Piprahi Primary Health Centre, from where all four were referred to Saroj Sitaram Sadar Hospital. Doctors there declared Ramji Rai dead during examination.
The three surviving personnel are undergoing treatment. SI Ashok Singh's condition is reported to be critical; arrangements are reportedly being made to transfer him to Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) in Muzaffarpur for advanced care. A woman constable travelling in the vehicle reportedly escaped serious injury.
Family's Grief and Official Response
Rai's son Deepak Kumar, along with family members and villagers, rushed to Sadar Hospital upon learning of the accident. The family was described as devastated by the sudden loss.
Sheohar Superintendent of Police Shailendra Kumar Singh visited the hospital to assess the condition of the injured personnel and gathered details about the circumstances of the crash from officials present.
Post-Mortem and Next Steps
Rai's body has been sent for post-mortem examination; it will be handed over to his family once the procedure is completed. The critical condition of SI Ashok Singh and the pending post-mortem mean the situation remains fluid. Whether the police station's practice of deploying a watchman as a driver will face formal scrutiny is yet to be confirmed.
Point of View
Not a trained driver — was at the wheel because the police station lacked regular drivers deserves more scrutiny than it will likely receive. Staff shortages in Bihar's district police forces are a known, chronic problem, but they rarely surface until a fatality forces the issue. Whether this incident triggers a formal review of driver deployment norms, or is quietly absorbed as an isolated accident, will be a measure of institutional accountability. SI Ashok Singh's critical condition adds urgency: if he does not recover, the human cost of this administrative gap doubles.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the Sheohar police jeep accident on 8 August?
The jeep reportedly went out of control near Singarhiya village when the driver swerved to avoid an oncoming pedestrian and crashed into a roadside tree. The vehicle was on its way back to Piprahi police station after a patrol in Belwa village.
Who was killed in the Sheohar road accident?
Ramji Rai, a 45-year-old police chowkidar (village watchman) from Kamrauli village under Piprahi police station, was killed. He was driving the jeep because of a reported shortage of regular drivers at the station.
What is the condition of SI Ashok Singh?
Sub-Inspector Ashok Singh is reported to be in critical condition. He is being treated at Saroj Sitaram Sadar Hospital, and arrangements are reportedly under way to transfer him to Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) in Muzaffarpur for advanced care.
How many people were injured in the accident?
Three police personnel were injured in addition to the deceased. A woman constable travelling in the jeep reportedly escaped serious injury, while SI Ashok Singh and two others are undergoing treatment.
What action has been taken by police authorities?
Sheohar Superintendent of Police Shailendra Kumar Singh visited the hospital to assess the injured and gather details about the accident. Ramji Rai's body has been sent for post-mortem examination before being returned to his family.
