Two Bikes Hit a Cart on Tilkamanjhi-Airport Road, One Accused Escapes
Bhagalpur: The havoc caused by uncontrolled speed on the city’s roads shows no signs of abating. A heart-wrenching incident occurred on Tuesday morning on the highly busy Tilkamanjhi-Airport road in Bhagalpur. Two high-speed motorcycles rammed into a handcart moving along the roadside. The impact was so severe that all the goods loaded on the cart were scattered across the road. The cart-puller narrowly escaped a major tragedy. After the incident, while one biker managed to flee the scene, the other was caught by local residents and handed over to the police.
According to eyewitnesses, around 9:30 AM on Tuesday, as traffic on the roads was increasing, some youths riding two motorcycles were moving at a very high speed from the Tilkamanjhi side towards the Airport road. Their speed was so high that they lost control and rammed directly into a handcart moving ahead of them.
The collision was so powerful that the cart overturned on the roadside, and all the goods kept on it—primarily vegetables and other daily necessities—were strewn across the road. The cart-puller, an elderly man, was thrown some distance away. Fortunately, he did not sustain any life-threatening injuries, but the incident caused chaos on the road.
Prompt Action and Public Outrage
As soon as the accident occurred, nearby shopkeepers and passersby gathered at the spot. Seeing the crowd, both bikers attempted to flee. The crowd acted immediately and managed to apprehend one of the bikers, while the other managed to give the crowd the slip, taking advantage of the surrounding alleys or shadows, and escaped.
The local crowd gave the apprehended youth a piece of their mind. Residents alleged that these youths frequently perform stunts in this area and drive their bikes like racing cars, constantly putting the lives of common pedestrians at risk.
Police Action
Upon receiving the information, the Tilkamanjhi police reached the spot. The police took the accused youth into custody from the crowd. The Station House Officer (SHO) stated that the youth is being interrogated, and efforts are underway to identify his accomplice. People present at the scene demanded that the police increase patrolling on this road to prevent the daily occurrence of such accidents and take strict action against vehicles speeding excessively.
Question Marks Over Road Safety
The road from Tilkamanjhi to the Airport is one of the most important and busy roads in the city. Despite this, compliance with road safety rules is negligible here.
Speeding: Performing stunts and riding bikes at high speeds in the middle of the city has become common among young bikers.
Encroachment: Handcarts and temporary shops parked on the roadside reduce the available space, making such accidents even more dangerous.
Traffic Rules: The disregard for basic rules, such as not wearing helmets and driving without valid documentation, was once again highlighted by this incident.
The Plight of the Victim
The cart-puller, who fell victim to the accident, tearfully explained that his entire day's earnings were destroyed as the goods scattered on the road. "This was my livelihood, which has today fallen prey to these people's negligence. What will I take home now?" His agony moved those present at the scene; some local shopkeepers even provided him with financial assistance.
This incident is not just a minor road accident but a warning for those who, in the intoxication of speed, stake the lives of others. The police administration must not only take strict action against the arrested accused but also run regular special campaigns to crack down on such 'speed devils.' For the city's safety, it is essential that strict fines and legal actions are imposed on those violating traffic rules so that such incidents are not repeated.
