14 poll staff killed in road mishap

As many as 14 government officials on election duty were killed when a truck carrying them fell from a bridge near Garhwa town in Palamau division. Of the 40 injured, ten, who were said to be in a serious condition, have been airlifted to the state-run RIMS hospital here.

Eyewitnesses said the truck driver was trying to avoid collision with a speeding bus coming from the opposite direction when he lost control of the vehicle. The truck was carrying around 60 government employees who had been deputed on poll duty. The bypoll for the Palamau Lok Sabha seat is scheduled to be held on March 29. DGP J.B. Mahopatra said the driver of the truck was among the deceased. “The employees were coming to report for poll duty,” he said.