A devastating road accident in Giridih district of Jharkhand left two people dead after three trucks collided and caught fire near a toll plaza on Thursday morning.
The incident took place near Kulgo toll plaza under Dumri police station limits. According to initial reports, a speeding truck coming from the Bagodar side lost control and crashed into two trucks parked along the roadside, including a coal-laden vehicle. The collision was so forceful that it triggered an immediate fire in the cabins.
Within minutes, the flames spread rapidly, engulfing the vehicles and leaving those inside with no chance to escape. A driver and a cleaner trapped in one of the trucks were burnt alive.
Locals rushed to the spot and tried to help, but the intensity of the blaze made rescue efforts nearly impossible.
Emergency teams from Dumri police and the fire brigade arrived shortly after being alerted and managed to douse the flames following sustained efforts. By then, two trucks had been completely gutted, while the third was partially damaged. The charred bodies were later recovered from the wreckage.
Another truck driver suffered serious injuries in the accident and was taken to a nearby hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
Sumit Prasad, the Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Dumri, said preliminary findings point to overspeeding and negligence as the likely cause of the crash.
Police have launched a detailed investigation to establish the exact sequence of events and determine accountability. Traffic movement, which was disrupted following the accident, has since been restored.
With inputs from IANS