At least two people were killed, and four others injured after a goods truck veered off the road and toppled onto a group of devotees participating in a religious procession for the idol immersion during the Durga Puja festival in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand, police said Wednesday.
The accident took place Tuesday night in Jamshedpur city of East Singhbhum, about 126 km southeast of Ranchi, the capital city of Jharkhand.
“Last night a goods truck while negotiating a slope at the Bodhanwala Ghat here toppled on a group of devotees who were walking in procession to immerse an idol. Six people were injured on the spot and immediately removed to the hospital. However, doctors there declared two dead on arrival and admitted four others,” a police official said. “The condition of two of the injured is stated to be critical.”
The local administration had urged devotees to observe caution during the immersion of idols on Durga Puja.
Reports said over 200 community processions were seen in the city to immerse idols and a huge crowd had thronged the roads to witness the gatherings.
Security arrangements along the banks were made to prevent drowning incidents and authorities had pressed into service drones to monitor the activities during processions and idol immersions.
