- A fatal road accident occurred on National Highway 31 near Purnia.
- One person lost their life, and others were injured.
- Police reached the spot and cleared traffic after the incident.
While you mentioned a single fatality, recent reports confirm a much larger tragedy on
National Highway 31 near the Purnia-Katihar border.
On Saturday evening, April 11, 2026, a massive multi-vehicle collision involving a bus, a truck, and a pickup van occurred in the Kodha block of Katihar district, specifically near Basgadha Chowk.
Accident Details
- Casualties: At least 13 people have died and approximately 30 others were injured. Initial reports suggested a lower death toll, but several victims succumbed to their injuries during treatment.
- Victims: Most of the deceased were residents of Purnia district (specifically the Purnia East block villages of Suhwa and Majhua). They were returning to Purnia from Jharkhand in a pickup van after completing a religious ritual.
- Cause: Preliminary investigations suggest the bus driver lost control of the vehicle. Witnesses and surviving passengers alleged the bus driver was drunk and speeding at the time of the head-on collision. News On AIR +7
Response and Relief
- Medical Care: The injured were rushed to the Katihar Sadar Hospital and the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Purnia for advanced care.
- Compensation: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh for the families of each deceased victim and ₹50,000 for each injured person.
- Traffic: Police reached the spot immediately to conduct rescue operations and cleared the heavy traffic jam caused by the wreckage on the busy NH-31 stretch.
