Patna, Feb 1 (NationPress) A devastating road incident in Bihta, located near Patna, Bihar, has resulted in the tragic deaths of five individuals and left three others in critical condition after a speeding truck collided with an auto-rickshaw on Sunday.

The collision occurred around 2:00 a.m. close to Lekhan Tola village in the jurisdiction of the Bihta police station.

Authorities reported that a truck, which appeared to be out of control, crashed head-on into an auto-rickshaw filled with passengers, utterly demolishing the three-wheeler due to the sheer force of the impact.

Five passengers lost their lives instantly, while three others sustained severe injuries.

Nearby residents promptly transported the injured to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), where their condition remains precarious. Among the injured are two children.

Locals stated that all victims were from the same family and were returning to Bhojpur district after participating in the Maner Urs fair.

The deceased included three men and two women.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, filled with panic and screams as individuals attempted to rescue the injured from the mangled auto-rickshaw.

Law enforcement was immediately notified, and a team from the Bihta police station arrived at the location.

The bodies of the deceased have been sent for post-mortem analysis, and their families have been notified.

Confirming the incident, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Bihta police station stated that an investigation is underway to locate the truck driver and the vehicle, which fled the scene post-collision.

This tragic event has once again spotlighted the urgent need for improved road safety measures, especially during late-night hours, highlighting the dangers associated with speeding and reckless driving on highways.

On Saturday, a doctor couple tragically lost their lives in a road accident near a toll plaza in the Sarai police station area of Vaishali district. The incident took place amid dense fog when their vehicle crashed into a parked container truck on the highway. The deceased were identified as Dr. Jitendra Prasad (50) and his wife (45), both affiliated with Araria Sadar Hospital and residents of Patna district. They were returning home from Araria at the time of the tragedy.

Earlier on January 30, another tragic road accident in Bihar's Araria district resulted in the deaths of two young men, including an SSB jawan. This incident occurred on the Araria-Raniganj main road near the Girhinda showroom when a speeding Bullet Motorcycle collided with a police jeep parked on the roadside.