A roadways bus allegedly driven by an intoxicated driver went on the rampage over nearly five kilometres of Padrauna in Kushinagar district on Tuesday evening, killing a 25-year-old staff nurse and injuring 17 others before police managed to stop the vehicle.
Additional superintendent of police Siddharth Verma said a breathalyser test confirmed that the driver was under the influence of alcohol. The auto-rickshaw overturned, injuring six passengers. Police personnel eventually intercepted the bus by placing barricades near the Ravindranagar Dhus police station and took the driver into custody. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and the sequence of collisions. They were also investigating why the bus had left the depot without passengers and where the driver was heading. Police are continuing their investigation into the driver’s alleged negligence and the circumstances that led to the series of collisions. Further details regarding the legal action against the driver were awaited.
The incident occurred around 7.45 pm when the bus, driven by Ajit Vishwakarma, who is posted at the Padrauna roadways depot, rammed into a passenger-filled auto-rickshaw.
Assistant regional manager of the Padrauna roadways depot, Jaiprakash Pradhan, said that officials were gathering details about the incident.
