Mob attacks hospital after auto-rickshaw carrying school children collides with van

5 persons were killed and 8 injured when an auto-rickshaw carrying students and a pick up van collided in Bihar.

Five persons were killed and eight injured when an auto-rickshaw carrying students and a pick up van collided in Bihar’s Siwan district, triggering violence in the area with locals ransacking a hospital and torching vehicles.

Peeved over lack of medical facilities, locals attacked a government hospital where the injured were rushed and indulged in arson.

Altogether nine vehicles including an ambulance, two cars belonging to doctors and government vehicles were burnt by the mob, Siwan Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ashok Sinha said.

Giving details of the accident, the ASP said “The auto-rickshaw was mainly carrying school students from Barharia to Siwan town, while the pickup van was coming from Siwan. Both the vehicles collided at high speed. Two persons were killed on the spot, while the rest died on their way to Patna after being referred there for better medical
treatment.”

The accident happened near Shahbazchak village. A mob gathered at Siwan Sadar Hospital as the injured persons including students were being brought there for treatment. They got angry after noticing that a few doctors were absent from duty, and the medical facilities were not up to mark, the ASP said.

Sensing the gravity of the situation, the lone doctor on duty there tried to admit the injured in private hospitals there, but they refused. The seriously injured persons were then referred to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH). “Angry over the scenario, the mob went on a rampage and torched beds, furniture, vehicles inside the Sadar Hospital premises. They also broke the doors and windows of the buildings. Our forces rushed there and controlled the situation,” Sinha added.

Fire tenders were rushed to the spot to douse the flames. Senior administrative officials are camping at the hospital.

The ASP said that four accident victims have been identified as Shailesh Kumar Gupta, Manu Gupta, Pappu Khan and Sajid Ali. The deceased belong to Rampur and Murgi Tola villages under Barharia police station. Among the eight injured, most of them are stated to be in serious condition, he said.

Source:: Indian Express