The gruesome road mishap that rocked the town of Koderma in the state of Jharkhand on July 17 took the lives of three people, including a minor, and caused one to be in a terrible state, as a speeding container lorry lost control and ran over four individuals as a result. The disastrous accident occurred at the Bandarchuan section, which falls within the limits of the Koderma police station, and has brought to the fore the question of the safety of the roads and the general condition of the vehicles in the area.
Eyewitness reports also indicated the container to be travelling at high speed, and it seemed to be going out of control due to its speed in facing a slightly curved road. In just a few seconds, the car went off its course and rammed a two-wheeler driven by two people, as well as two other pedestrians on the sidewalk. The impact was severe, and thus the victims were hurled some meters. The container then skidded off the road and fell into a nearby ditch, injuring the driver.
The people who lived in the neighbourhood sprinted to the site when they heard the loud crash. Instead, they met what turned out to be a scene of devastation and heart-wrenching. The motorbike was stashed with the super heavy wheels of the container, and the victims were scattered along the road. One of the victims was a small child who was probably eight years old. The other two victims are adults who were said to be from the same family. The fourth man, who is seriously injured, was rushed to a local hospital where he is undergoing critical care.
It is said that the initial reports indicate that no fault was on the side of the drivers, as the accident occurred due to brake failure, which is a common occurrence with heavy vehicles that use the roads in the region. According to the organization, the container was in transit, bound to Bihar and was carrying commercial goods when the driver lost control. According to residents, there are many trucks that have been seen going up and down this route and are half broken and are likely to cause danger on the road.
When the Koderma police received the alert, they arrived shortly after. The corpses of the deceased persons were referred to undergo postmortem, and clearing of the wreckage was made to resume traffic flow. A complaint has been made, and the police are examining whether the container bears proper permits and safety certification papers. The car driver, who received injuries, is under supervision and will be interrogated after his condition stabilizes.
The employee involved in this accident has angered residents and local leaders who are now calling for increased vetting on heavy vehicles, particularly those that go through areas with people. Road safety is quite an issue in Jharkhand, where accidents involving large trucks have increased to dangerous levels due to ineffective road traffic rules and practices, as well as inadequate vehicle checking.
With the citizens of the town grieving over the loss of innocent lives, especially that of a young child, the accident is a grim reminder that there is an urgent need to further regulate and improve road structure and implement a stern crackdown on thoughtless driving and vehicle checks. A tragic family that had lost the world in the blink of an eye is left with the impossible mission of regaining their life and returning to normalcy.