4 killed as truck hits stationary bus in East Midnapore on Rath Yatra day
Synopsis
A speeding truck ploughed into a stationary passenger bus on NH-116B in East Midnapore on Rath Yatra day, killing four people including the bus driver. The truck driver fled the scene and is being hunted by police — while residents say such crashes are a recurring menace on this stretch of highway.
Key Takeaways
Four people killed and three injured after a truck rammed a stationary bus near Heriya Bazar, Nandakumar on 16 July .
The crash occurred on National Highway 116B in East Midnapore district, West Bengal .
Deceased identified as Tapan Das , Shibbrata Patnaik , Ashok Maiti , and Shubhdeep Mandal ; the bus driver was among those killed.
The Kolkata-Digha bus had broken down and passengers had already alighted when the truck struck.
The truck has been seized ; its driver is absconding and a search is underway.
Residents allege accidents are frequent on this highway stretch and have demanded urgent safety measures.
At least four people were killed and three others injured after a speeding truck rammed into a stationary passenger bus in the Nandakumar area of West Bengal's East Midnapore district on Thursday, 16 July — the day of the Jagannath Rath Yatra. Police confirmed the fatalities after victims were taken to a local health centre.
How the Accident Unfolded
The crash occurred on National Highway 116B near Heriya Bazar on Thursday morning. The Kolkata-Digha passenger bus had developed a mechanical fault and was parked by the roadside while the driver and crew carried out repair work, having already asked all passengers to disembark.
At that point, a Digha-bound truck allegedly lost control and slammed into the rear of the stationary bus at high speed. Local residents rushed to the scene after hearing the impact and alerted authorities.
Casualties and Medical Response
Officers from Khejuri police station arrived shortly after being informed. All injured persons were evacuated to Heriya Primary Health Centre, where doctors declared four of them dead. The remaining three injured were transferred to Tamluk District Hospital for advanced care.
The deceased have been identified as Tapan Das, Shibbrata Patnaik, Ashok Maiti, and Shubhdeep Mandal. Among those killed was the bus driver, who died despite having stepped out to attend to the vehicle.
Traffic Disruption and Police Action
The collision triggered a temporary blockade on NH-116B, halting traffic movement for a period before police intervened to restore normalcy. The truck involved has been seized, but its driver fled the scene and remains at large. A search operation is currently underway to trace him.
Residents Demand Safety Measures
The tragedy cast a shadow over local Rath Yatra celebrations in the area. Residents allege that accidents are frequent on the Digha-Nandakumar stretch of the national highway and have demanded immediate government intervention to improve road safety. This is the latest in a pattern of highway fatalities on this corridor, according to local accounts.
Point of View
Inadequate hazard signalling, and a speeding truck whose driver is now on the run. The fact that passengers had already disembarked likely prevented a far larger death toll, but that is cold comfort. Residents say such crashes recur on the Digha-Nandakumar stretch, yet systemic fixes — highway patrolling, mandatory breakdown lighting, speed enforcement — remain absent. The absconding driver also points to a wider accountability gap: hit-and-run cases on Indian highways rarely result in swift prosecution, which does little to deter reckless driving.
NationPress
16 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the East Midnapore road accident on 16 July?
A speeding truck lost control and crashed into a stationary passenger bus on National Highway 116B near Heriya Bazar in Nandakumar, East Midnapore, West Bengal, on 16 July. The collision killed four people and injured three others.
Who were the victims killed in the Nandakumar highway accident?
The four deceased have been identified as Tapan Das, Shibbrata Patnaik, Ashok Maiti, and Shubhdeep Mandal. One of them was the driver of the Kolkata-Digha bus.
Why was the bus stationary when the truck hit it?
The Kolkata-Digha passenger bus had developed a mechanical fault and was parked on the roadside while the crew carried out repairs. Passengers had been asked to disembark before the truck struck the rear of the vehicle.
Has the truck driver been arrested?
No. The truck driver fled the scene after the crash and remains at large. Police have seized the truck and launched a search operation to trace the driver.
What are residents demanding after the East Midnapore crash?
Local residents allege that accidents are frequent on the Digha-Nandakumar stretch of NH-116B and have demanded immediate measures from authorities to improve highway safety and prevent future fatalities.
