Nine people were killed and two injured when the SUV they were travelling in lost control and fell into a roadside ditch in Bihar's Purnea district on Saturday.
The accident took place around 3am near Kanjia village under Baisi police station area when the car with 11 occupants was returning after attending a tilak ceremony (initial function of a wedding) in Tarabadi area of Purnea district.
Baisi sub-divisional officer (SDO) Kumari Tosi told The Telegraph that the ill-fated group was returning to their native place in Mahigaon panchayat under Kochadhaman block in neighbouring Kishanganj district.
“The mishap occurred along the Purnea – Kishanganj state highway. The ditch is a big one, and is full of water. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem,” Tosi added.
The locals said that the water level had gone up after the recent pre-monsoon showers in the district. There is also a sharp turn on the road where the mishap occurred.
The locals rushed in the dark of the night after hearing the splash and launched a rescue operation. The police and local administration also arrived after some time. Nine dead bodies were fished out while two persons of the group survived.
Chief minister Nitish Kumar expressed grief at the loss of lives and directed the disaster management department to provide Rs 4 lakh as compensation to the next of kin of each of the deceased.