Tragic Road Accident in Barari Police Station Area; Woman and Another Passenger Seriously Injured After E-Rickshaw Collides with Electricity Pole, Admitted to Mayaganj Hospital;
Bhagalpur, Special Correspondent: Due to driver negligence and administrative apathy, another major road accident could not be avoided on a busy route within the Barari police station area of Silk City Bhagalpur on Tuesday. Driven by high speed and a lack of control, an overcrowded E-Rickshaw (Toto) collided head-on with an electricity pole standing right in the middle of the road. This horrific collision left two passengers on board, including a woman, seriously injured. Pandemonium broke out at the scene following the accident. With the help of locals, both injured individuals were rushed immediately to the city's largest hospital, Mayaganj (JLNMCH), where their condition remains critical. Following this incident, intense anger has erupted among local residents and passersby against the electricity department and the district administration.
How Did the Accident Happen? Eyewitness Accounts
According to information received from eyewitnesses, the auto driver was speeding while ferrying passengers toward their destination. Near a narrow and heavily congested turn in the Barari police station area, the driver lost control while attempting to avoid another vehicle suddenly approaching from the opposite direction.
Direct Collision with the Pole: The destabilized e-rickshaw slammed at high velocity into an old, dilapidated electricity pole standing either right on the roadside or virtually in the middle of the thoroughfare.
The impact was so severe that the front portion of the e-rickshaw was completely mangled, and the passengers sitting on it were thrown onto the asphalt. Hearing the crash, nearby residents rushed to the spot and initiated rescue operations.
Identification of the Injured and Treatment at Mayaganj Hospital
Upon receiving news of the accident, Barari police station personnel promptly arrived at the scene. With the assistance of locals and police, both injured victims were rushed via ambulance to the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital (Mayaganj):
Seriously Injured Woman: Doctors described the condition of the injured woman as alarming. She sustained severe injuries to her head and legs, following which she is undergoing treatment in the emergency ward.
Second Injured Passenger: The other passenger on the e-rickshaw sustained internal injuries and fractures across multiple parts of his body and has been placed under close medical observation. According to hospital sources, efforts are underway to stabilize their conditions, but the impact of the shocks has left them in deep shock.
Outrage Among Locals: Electricity Poles on Roads Have Become Death Traps
Gathering at the scene following the accident, local residents and shopkeepers vented their fury against the administration. People stated that this is not an isolated incident; dozens of such electricity poles standing in the middle or edges of roads in the Barari area are openly courting death:
Negligence of the Power Department: Local residents allege that during road widening or construction work, the electricity department and contractors failed to remove these poles, making them frequent hazards for motorists.
Heightened Danger Under the Cover of Darkness: Due to the absence of adequate street lighting on these poles during nighttime hours, they remain invisible to drivers, resulting in frequent minor accidents. Today's incident proves that if proactive steps are not taken in time, a major fatal accident could occur at any moment.
Key Demands Placed Before the Administration and Police
Incensed by the incident, local residents placed the following firm demands before the local administration:
Immediate Removal of the Pole: All electricity poles standing in the middle of roads or in hazardous locations should be immediately relocated elsewhere or shifted underground (Underground Cabling).
Reining in E-Rickshaw and Auto Drivers: The traffic police must take strict action against reckless e-rickshaw drivers who zip through narrow city lanes ignoring traffic rules.
Compensation for the Injured: The entire cost of treatment for both passengers severely injured in the accident should be borne by the district administration or the concerned department.
Assurances from Police and Administration
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the Barari police station seized the wrecked e-rickshaw and initiated a search for the driver. Police officials pacified the agitated crowds gathered at the spot and assured them that appropriate steps would be taken by corresponding with electricity department officials to swiftly remove the dangerously positioned electricity poles.
This accident in Bhagalpur's Barari police station area is not merely a minor road mishap; rather, it exposes serious flaws in our urban planning and administrative systems that repeatedly jeopardize the lives of ordinary citizens. If these death-trap electricity poles are not cleared from the roads in time and the speeds of motorists are not reined in, such accidents will continue to turn the joys of city residents into mourning.
