Bus Overturn in Jharkhand Claims Nine Lives, Including Five Women, Injures Over 80 Wedding Guests

Latehar: A road accident claimed the lives of at least nine people, including five women, and left more than 80 others injured when a bus transporting wedding guests overturned in Latehar district of Jharkhand on Sunday, January 18, 2026.

The incident took place at Orsa Bangladara valley within the jurisdiction of Mahuadanr police station. The bus was carrying a marriage party from Balrampur district in Chhattisgarh to a wedding ceremony in Mahuadanr, Latehar.

According to Superintendent of Police Kumar Gaurav, five individuals, four of them women, died at the scene.

The injured were immediately rushed to hospitals for treatment. Two more succumbed to their injuries at Latehar hospital, while another two passed away at Gumla Sadar hospital, officials confirmed. Gumla Civil Surgeon Shambhu Nath Choudhary noted that nine of the injured were referred to Sadar hospital, and two were already deceased.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate Vipin Kumar Dubey reported that around 60 injured persons were admitted to the Mahuadanr community health centre, with over 20 others taken to a private hospital. Thirty-two critically injured patients are being transferred to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi for advanced care.

The deceased have been identified as Reshanti Devi (35), Prema Devi (37), Sita Devi (45), Sonamati Devi (55), Sukhna Bhuiyan (40), and Vijay Bhuiyan. Efforts are ongoing to identify one additional woman who died at Latehar hospital.

Bus driver Vikas Pathak stated that the vehicle was carrying approximately 90 passengers. He attributed the accident to sudden brake failure, explaining that despite his attempts to control the bus using the handbrake and by switching off the engine, he was unable to prevent it from overturning.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren expressed concern over the tragedy and, in a post on X, directed the Latehar Deputy Commissioner to ensure prompt and adequate medical assistance for all the injured. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.

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