Deoghar (Jharkhand), July 29: A tragic road accident took place early Tuesday morning in Jharkhand’s Deoghar district, where a bus carrying Kanwariya pilgrims collided with a truck. As per initial reports, at least 18 people were killed, and several others were seriously injured.

The accident happened around 4:30 AM near the Jamuniya forest area, under the Mohanpur police station limits. The bus was carrying Kanwariyas — devotees of Lord Shiva — who were likely heading towards the famous Baba Baidyanath Dham temple in Deoghar during the holy month of Shravan.

According to police officials, the bus crashed into a truck that was transporting gas cylinders. The impact was severe, leaving many passengers trapped inside the vehicle. Rescue teams reached the spot shortly after being alerted. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals and primary health centres for immediate medical care.

Officials fear that the death toll could rise, as several of the injured pilgrims are in critical condition.

Leaders Express Condolences
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who represents the Godda constituency in Jharkhand, confirmed the tragedy in a post on social media. “Eighteen devotees lost their lives in a tragic accident between a bus and a truck. May Baba Baidyanath Ji give strength to their families to bear this grief,” Dubey tweeted.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren also expressed deep sorrow over the incident. In a statement, he said, “This morning, extremely sad news was received about the death of devotees traveling in a bus accident near Jamunia Chowk. The district administration is carrying out relief and rescue operations and providing medical support to the injured. May Baba Baidyanath give peace to the departed souls and strength to the grieving families.”

Pilgrimage in Full Swing
The accident occurred during the peak of the Shravan month pilgrimage, a time when lakhs of devotees visit the Baba Baidyanath Dham temple in Deoghar. Officials say that over 3 lakh pilgrims had visited the temple on the third Monday (Somwari) of Shravan, just a day before the incident.

Rescue Operations Ongoing
Police and district officials have cordoned off the area and are investigating the cause of the collision. “The bus hit a truck carrying gas cylinders near Jamuniya forest. We are still verifying details,” said Inspector General Shailendra Kumar Sinha of the Dumka Zone.

The administration is monitoring the condition of the injured, and additional medical teams have been deployed in nearby hospitals to manage the crisis.

As the community mourns this loss, safety concerns around the heavy pilgrimage traffic during Shravan are likely to come under serious review.