Hazaribag: Three persons were killed and five critically injured after a lime-laden truck allegedly suffered a brake failure and rammed into several vehicles and roadside shops near Ghato More on NH-33 in Hazaribag district on Saturday.Police and witnesses said the truck, with a Rajasthan number plate, coming from Hazaribag side, suddenly went out of control, first hitting an auto and then a bus. The truck also hit a parked mini-van before veering off the road and crashing into roadside fruit and paan kiosks.A fruit vendor, Uday Singh, 27, a resident of Nimadih village in Charhi, died on the spot. Siblings Aditya Singh, 58, and Ashish Singh, 45, who were standing near their bike at the roadside, were also injured in the accident. Both were rushed to Mandu community health centre where they succumbed to their injuries during treatment. Five more injured were referred to the Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College and Hospital for better treatment.The accident caused a traffic congestion at the Charhi Chowk. Police later diverted vehicles to the opposite lane to restore traffic movement.“Two cranes were pressed into service, and the truck was finally cleared from the highway after several hours,” said an officer.Charhi police station officer-in-charge Kundan Kant Vimal said that police reached the spot soon after receiving information and launched rescue operations. “The exact cause of the accident is being investigated. The driver has been detained,” he said, adding that initial probe indicated brake failure.Hazaribag MP Manish Jaiswal expressed grief over the accident and said recurring accidents at Ghato More is a matter of concern.“More than two dozen people have lost their lives at the spot in the last few years. There is an urgent need for construction of an overbridge, and relocation of the tempo stand near the spot. I will take up the matter with the departments concerned for concrete measures to prevent future accidents.”
