Mother and Son Killed in Pickup–Bus Collision in Jhapa

A mother and her son were killed when a pickup vehicle collided with a passenger bus on the East–West Highway at Naya Basti, Kankai Municipality–3, Jhapa. Twelve other passengers were injured in the accident.

According to police, the crash occurred at around 9:30 a.m. on Thursday. The pickup truck (registration number Me 1 Cha 4515), which was traveling from Birtamod toward Maidhar, collided head-on with a bus (registration number Na 5 Kha 2149) coming from Maidhar toward Birtamod.

Among the injured, 40-year-old Sushma Rajbanshi of Bhadrapur Municipality and her one-and-a-half-year-old son Aruti Rajbanshi succumbed to their injuries during treatment. The District Police Office, Jhapa, confirmed that they died while undergoing treatment at B & C Hospital.

The accident left 12 people injured, including the pickup driver, 39-year-old Jakir Husen of Birtamod Municipality–6. Police said that some of the injured are in critical condition, some are in moderate condition, and others sustained minor injuries.

Those injured include Phulmunni Murmu, Jamuna Rajbanshi, and 11-year-old Anish Rajbanshi, who are currently receiving treatment at B & C Hospital, Birtamod. Other injured passengers are being treated at Birtacity Hospital in Birtamod. Among the critically injured are Afud Rajbanshi and Pathal Rajbanshi.

Both vehicles involved in the accident have been taken into police custody. The bus driver fled the scene following the accident, and a search operation is underway, police said. Further investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the collision.