A Nalanda road accident killed three youths, including two minor brothers, and left two others critically injured after a motorcycle carrying all five riders crashed into a divider in Harnaut late on Tuesday night. Police said none of the riders was wearing a helmet.
The crash occurred near pillar number 51 under the Harnaut police station area in Nalanda district. Police said the motorcycle rider allegedly lost control after a dog suddenly came onto the road, causing the vehicle to hit the roadside divider and throw all five riders off.
The deceased were identified as Gautam Kumar, 19, of Sabnahuadih village, and brothers Abhimanyu alias Manu, 15, and Anish Kumar, 13, of Adarsh Nagar in Harnaut. The two injured riders, Amit Kumar, 14, and Ravi Kumar, are residents of Harnaut and are undergoing treatment at Bihar Sharif Sadar Hospital. Their condition was reported to be critical.
According to Amit, the five friends had gone out on the motorcycle late at night, with Gautam riding the vehicle. He told police that a dog appeared on the road near the divider and that Gautam lost control while attempting to avoid it.
The riders were initially taken to Kalyanbigha Referral Hospital. Doctors there declared Gautam and Abhimanyu dead. Anish, Amit and Ravi were later referred to Bihar Sharif Sadar Hospital, where Anish died during treatment.
Police said all five riders suffered serious head injuries in the crash. The absence of helmets was cited as a major factor in the severity of the injuries, although the police investigation into the circumstances of the collision is continuing.
Family members said Gautam worked at a grocery shop operated by the father of the two minor brothers in Harnaut market. The families were closely associated, according to relatives. Gautam’s nephew, Guddu, said the youths had been bursting firecrackers near their homes before deciding to go for a motorcycle ride at around 10pm.
The families learnt about the accident nearly 30 minutes after it occurred, police said. Harnaut station house officer Mukesh Kumar Verma said the bodies had been taken into police custody and sent to Bihar Sharif Sadar Hospital for post-mortem examinations.
“We are investigating the accident. Further legal action will be taken after receiving a written complaint from the family members,” Verma said. Police said the next legal steps would follow the post-mortem process and receipt of the written complaint.
