Heartbreaking scenes played out in Vaishali, Bihar, after a brick-laden tractor veered off the Jhimri Ghat Pipa Bridge and sank into the Ganga River on Thursday. The sole occupant, Horial Sahni, perished despite frantic rescue efforts.
Eyewitnesses recounted how the tragedy struck in a split second. The tractor, traveling from Gazipur towards Raghoopur Diyara, approached the bridge’s steep descent. Spotting a biker ahead, the driver jerked the steering wheel to dodge a collision. The abrupt maneuver sent the heavy vehicle smashing through flimsy railings and plummeting into the river’s depths.
Panic gripped the area as bystanders dialed emergency numbers. Bidupur police station team and SDRF personnel mobilized quickly, deploying divers into the treacherous waters. After an exhaustive five-hour search, they pulled out Sahni’s lifeless body.
Hailing from Gazipur village under Desari thana, the deceased was son of late Anirudh Sahni. Family members, already shattered, learned he was their only earning hand. ‘Our world has collapsed,’ wept cousin Pankaj Kumar, capturing the family’s anguish.
The postmortem was conducted at Hajipur’s Sadar Hospital, with police launching a probe into potential factors like road conditions or vehicle faults.
This fatal plunge underscores persistent dangers at the pipa bridge. Residents complain of the elevated, slippery approach road lacking guardrails or warning signs. Multiple prior accidents have been reported, yet infrastructure upgrades remain elusive.
Community leaders are demanding immediate interventions: reinforced barriers, better lighting, and road leveling. As the Ganga claims another victim, calls for accountability grow louder, urging swift action to prevent future losses on this accident-prone crossing.