A tourist coach carrying a group of Kerala devotees from Gaya to Ayodhya was involved in a serious collision in Bihar’s Buxar district early Monday. The vehicle rammed into a parked lorry shortly after crossing the Veer Kunwar Singh Ganga Bridge, leaving 23 people wounded.

From Gaya to Ayodhya: The Pilgrimage Route

The convoy consisted of 27 pilgrims who had arrived in Gaya to perform the traditional pind daan rites. After completing the rituals, the bus set off from Gaya around 10 p.m. on Sunday, bound for the sacred city of Ayodhya. At approximately 3 a.m. on Monday, the vehicle passed the Veer Kunwar Singh Ganga Bridge before the accident occurred.

How the Accident Unfolded

Eyewitnesses say most passengers were asleep when the bus suddenly struck a lorry that was stationary on the road shoulder. The impact jolted travelers from their seats and caused panic inside the coach.

Local residents and officers from the Industrial Police Station rushed to the scene. With their help, the injured were pulled from the wreckage and taken to Buxar Sadar Hospital.

Injuries and Medical Response

A total of twenty‑three people, including driver Ramesh Swami, sustained injuries. The driver suffered the most severe wounds. Four pilgrims continue to receive treatment at the hospital, while the others were given initial care and later discharged.

The following travellers were reported injured:

  • K. Venu Rao
  • K. Rajeshwari Rao
  • K. Narayan Rao
  • K. Swami Rao
  • K. Vijaya Rao
  • K. Sampath Rao
  • P. Ilaiah
  • G. Ram Reddy
  • G. Raju Reddy
  • K. Sampath
  • V. Sarvaiya
  • B. Ilaiah
  • V. Rama Rao
  • T. Ehesia
  • P. Venkata Rao
  • T. Sampath Rao
  • T. Narasimha Rao
  • G. Rajeshwari Rao

Medical officials indicated that none of the injuries were life‑threatening, and several passengers were released to continue their pilgrimage by train from Buxar railway station.

First‑Hand Accounts

One injured pilgrim, K. Swami, recalled being asleep when a deafening crash jolted him awake and hurled him against the seat ahead. Another traveller, Ram Rao, speculated that the driver might have dozed off, though police have not confirmed this theory.

Police Investigation

Industrial Police Station SHO Sonu Kumar said officers arrived promptly after receiving the emergency call. Investigators are probing the cause of the collision, including the possibility of driver fatigue, to determine the exact circumstances.

After receiving medical care, the remaining pilgrims were discharged and proceeded to Buxar railway station to resume their journey by train.