At least eight people including six children were killed as a truck crushed them when some people were offering special prayers near Nayagaon Tola on the Mehnar-Hajipur Road in Vaishali district of Bihar.
Police said the people were gathered under a tree when suddenly a truck smashed into the tree on Sunday night. The driver of the truck fled after the disaster. Several injured were rushed to a hospital.
The deceased include Varsha Kumari (8), Suruchi Kumari (12), Anushka Kumari (8), Shivani (8), Khushi Kumari (10), Chandan Kumar (20), Komal Kumari (10) and Satish Kumar (17).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed deep sorrow over the incident. The Prime Minister announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the kith of each diseased and Rs 50,000 for the treatment of those injured.
Nitish Kumar directed the authorities to provide ex-gratia to the families of each deceased.
