18 Kanwariya Devotees Killed as Bus Collides with Truck in Deoghar

Deoghar — A devastating road accident in Jharkhand’s Deoghar district on Tuesday morning claimed the lives of 18 Kanwariya devotees and left at least 10 others injured. The tragic incident occurred around 4:30 a.m. near the Jamunia forest area under the Mohanpur police station jurisdiction, when a bus carrying pilgrims collided head-on with a truck transporting gas cylinders.

The 32-seater bus was en route to the Baba Baidyanath Dham temple, a sacred pilgrimage destination during the ongoing Shravani Mela, a month-long religious festival that draws thousands of Shiva devotees from across the country. The devotees were carrying holy water (jal) to offer at the revered shrine when the accident struck.

According to Dumka Range Inspector General of Police Shailendra Kumar Sinha, the impact of the collision was severe, leaving the bus mangled and several passengers trapped inside. Immediate rescue operations were launched with the assistance of local police, ambulance services, and teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). The injured were transported to nearby primary health centres and Deoghar Sadar Hospital. Authorities stated that several victims are in critical condition.

Initial reports of the death toll varied, with Deputy Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Laxman Prasad stating nine fatalities early on. However, Deoghar MP Nishikant Dubey later confirmed that 18 devotees had perished in the crash. “In my Lok Sabha constituency of Deoghar, 18 pilgrims lost their lives during the Kanwar Yatra. May Baba Baidyanath give their families the strength to endure this grief,” he said in a statement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives. In a message shared by the Prime Minister’s Office on X (formerly Twitter), he said, “The road accident in Deoghar is extremely tragic. I offer my deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. May God grant them the strength to bear this pain, and I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.”

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren called the news “extremely saddening” and confirmed that the district administration had launched immediate relief and rescue operations. “May Baba Baidyanath grant peace to the departed souls and give strength to the bereaved families during this hour of sorrow,” he said.

Eyewitnesses at the scene described it as horrifying. The force of the collision reportedly tore the bus apart, and screams of the injured and dying echoed through the forested stretch. Emergency responders worked through the wreckage to recover bodies and assist survivors.

As of now, the identities of the deceased are being verified, and post-mortem examinations are underway. The state government is expected to announce compensation for the families of the victims.

Further investigation is ongoing to determine the exact cause of the accident, and whether any lapses in vehicle safety or road conditions contributed to the tragedy.