Guwahati: As many as five people were dead and 18 others were injured after a pickup van transporting devotees crashed into a water-filled ditch at Gai Ghat in the vicinity of the Chenari police station on Friday.
“The pickup van carrying 23 devotees from Gera-Chandi village of Gorari police station area of Karakat was going for Jalabhishek for Gupta Dham Shivratri of Chenari police station area,” police said.
According to Priyanka Kumari, a devotee in the pickup van, “The accident happened when we were going to Jalabhishek for Gupta Dham Shivratri and suddenly the pickup fell into the ditch on the mountain road. Everyone was going to Guptadham to offer prayers on Shivratri. In the meantime, they have become victims of the accident.”
Police arrived at the scene after getting the news.
According to the police, all the injured were taken to PHP in Chenari for medical attention where eight patients were sent to Sadar Hospital in Sasaram due to their significant injuries.
Moreover, the corpses were transported to Sadar Hospital in Sasaram for a postmortem.
The deceased have been identified as Matra Devi, Kanti Devi and Mithu Kumar.
A search and rescue effort is under progress.