Bihar road tragedy: 13 dead, 30 hurt in Katihar collision, relief announced

A routine Saturday evening turned into a scene of devastation in Katihar, where a multi-vehicle collision on National Highway-31 claimed 13 lives and left around 30 people injured , exposing once again the fragile reality of road safety in the country.

The accident occurred around 6:30 PM near Kodha block , when a bus, a truck, and a pickup van collided in a violent crash. According to police officials, the impact was severe, leaving several victims dead on the spot , while others succumbed during treatment , pushing the death toll up from initial reports. The pickup van was reportedly carrying passengers from the neighbouring Purnea district when tragedy struck.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the bus driver may have lost control , leading to the collision on the busy highway stretch. However, authorities have launched a detailed probe to determine the exact sequence of events. All the injured were rushed to nearby government hospitals , where many continue to receive treatment, some in critical condition . Officials are also working to ascertain the identities of all the deceased.

As news of the tragedy spread, both the state and central leadership expressed grief and announced compensation for the victims. Nitish Kumar announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh to the families of those who died and ₹50,000 to the injured from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund , while directing officials to ensure proper medical care .

Narendra Modi described the incident as “extremely painful,” extending condolences to the bereaved families and announcing identical financial assistance from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund , along with prayers for the injured.

Adding to the outpouring of condolences, Droupadi Murmu also expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the accident and prayed for the swift recovery of those injured, reflecting the nation’s collective grief.

The Katihar tragedy once again highlights a grim pattern seen across India’s highways, where speeding, loss of control, and heavy traffic continue to claim lives. Behind every statistic are families shattered in an instant , raising urgent questions about road safety, enforcement, and prevention .