9 killed, over 80 injured as wedding party bus overturns in Jharkhand

At least nine people, including five women, were killed and more than 80 others injured after a bus carrying wedding guests overturned in Jharkhand’s Latehar district, turning a celebratory journey into a night of tragedy. The accident occurred on Sunday in the steep and winding Orsa Bangladara valley under the limits of Mahuadanr police station.

The bus was travelling from Balrampur district in neighbouring Chhattisgarh to Mahuadanr for a wedding when it lost control and toppled on the hilly stretch. Police said five passengers, most of them women, died on the spot, while dozens sustained injuries in the crash.

As the night progressed, the death toll rose as four injured passengers succumbed during treatment at hospitals in Latehar and Gumla. Several of the injured were in critical condition, prompting authorities to refer them to larger medical facilities for advanced care.

Officials said around 60 injured passengers were admitted to the Mahuadanr community health centre, while more than 20 were taken to private hospitals. Thirty-two seriously injured people were referred to RIMS Ranchi for better treatment, as doctors worked through the night to stabilise victims.

Preliminary accounts suggest brake failure may have caused the accident. The bus driver said he attempted to stop the vehicle using the handbrake and by switching off the engine, but lost control on the slope. Chief minister Hemant Soren expressed concern and directed district authorities to ensure proper medical care for all the injured.