35 injured as bus overturns on NH-31 in Bihar's Katihar
Synopsis
A packed passenger bus carrying around 50 people — many of them migrant labourers bound for West Bengal — overturned on NH-31 in Katihar after a head-on collision with a car, injuring 35. Twelve passengers with severe head and internal injuries were rushed to Purnea Sadar Hospital, spotlighting the persistent danger of head-on crashes on Bihar's national highways.
Key Takeaways
A speeding bus carrying approximately 50 passengers overturned on NH-31 near Jurabganj, Katihar on Saturday, 13 June after a head-on collision with a car.
At least 35 people were injured; 12 critically injured passengers were referred to Purnea Sadar Hospital with severe head and internal injuries.
Many passengers were migrant labourers travelling from Nalanda district toward West Bengal .
SHO Pankaj Anand led the rescue, with police and local youths breaking bus windows to free trapped passengers.
Traffic on NH-31 was disrupted for nearly two hours before cranes and a JCB cleared the wreckage.
Police have seized both vehicles and launched a formal investigation.
At least 35 people were injured on Saturday, 13 June after a speeding passenger bus collided head-on with a car and overturned on NH-31 in Katihar district, Bihar, officials said. The accident occurred near Jurabganj, under the jurisdiction of Kodha Police Station, in the early hours of the morning.
How the Accident Unfolded
The bus, carrying approximately 50 passengers — many of them migrant labourers travelling toward destinations in West Bengal from Nalanda district — was struck by a car coming from the opposite direction. The force of the impact caused the driver to lose control, sending the vehicle overturning onto the highway. Several passengers were trapped between seats and inside the mangled bus as panic spread across the site.
Rescue Operation
Station House Officer Pankaj Anand arrived at the scene within minutes with his team and, with the assistance of local youths, broke open bus windows to free passengers trapped inside. Local villagers and Bihar Police personnel worked in tandem to carry out the rescue. All 35 injured were transported to the Community Health Centre in Kodha by ambulances and private vehicles.
Critical Cases Referred to Purnea
Doctors at the health centre referred 12 critically injured passengers to Purnea Sadar Hospital after detecting severe head and internal injuries. The driver of the car, who also sustained serious injuries, was similarly shifted to Purnea for advanced treatment. The remaining injured passengers were reported stable, with several discharged after receiving first aid.
Traffic Disruption and Road Clearance
The accident severely disrupted traffic on NH-31, with long queues of trucks and buses forming on both sides of the highway. Police deployed cranes and a JCB machine to remove the overturned bus and clear debris. Normal traffic movement was restored after nearly two hours of effort. Police have seized both the damaged bus and car and initiated a formal legal investigation into the incident.
Point of View
With head-on collisions between overloaded passenger buses and oncoming vehicles a recurring pattern. The fact that migrant labourers, among the most economically vulnerable road users, bore the brunt here underscores a systemic gap: neither vehicle fitness checks nor highway safety infrastructure has kept pace with the volume of long-distance travel on these routes. Twelve critical referrals from a single crash also exposes the limits of rural health infrastructure — a community health centre unable to handle major trauma, with patients needing onward transfer to Purnea. The legal investigation announced by police is routine; what is less routine, and rarely followed through, is accountability for bus operators running overloaded vehicles at unsafe speeds.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Katihar bus accident on NH-31?
A passenger bus carrying around 50 people collided head-on with a car and overturned on NH-31 near Jurabganj in Katihar, Bihar, in the early hours of Saturday, 13 June. At least 35 passengers were injured, and 12 critically injured individuals were referred to Purnea Sadar Hospital.
Who were the passengers on the bus?
Many of the approximately 50 passengers were migrant labourers travelling from Nalanda district toward various destinations in West Bengal. Several were trapped inside the overturned vehicle before being rescued by police and local youths.
How were the injured treated?
All 35 injured were initially taken to the Community Health Centre in Kodha. Doctors there referred 12 passengers with severe head and internal injuries to Purnea Sadar Hospital. The car driver, who also suffered serious injuries, was shifted to Purnea for advanced care. The remaining injured were reported stable or discharged after first aid.
How long was NH-31 disrupted?
The accident caused significant traffic congestion on NH-31, with long queues forming on both sides of the highway. Police used cranes and a JCB machine to remove the overturned bus and clear debris, restoring normal traffic flow after nearly two hours.
What action has been taken by police?
Bihar Police, led by SHO Pankaj Anand, conducted the rescue operation and coordinated hospital transfers. Both the damaged bus and car have been seized, and a formal legal investigation into the accident has been initiated.
