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‘We’ve lost humanity’: Bystanders loot fish from overturned truck in Bihar as boy’s dead body lies nearby after fatal crash, video goes viral

The pickup truck, which was carrying fish, had overturned, scattering its load across the road in Bihar's Sitamarhi district.

2 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Jan 18, 2026 07:09 PM IST

Witnesses reported that people were seen collecting the fish in sacks and fleeing the scene (Image source: @indians/Instagram)

An incident in Bihar’s Sitamarhi district has highlighted a lack of empathy in the aftermath of a road accident that killed a boy. The tragedy unfolded near Jhajhihat village, when a fast-moving pickup truck carrying fish hit Ritesh Kumar, a Class 7 boy, who was heading to his morning coaching class.

As the grieving parents mourned beside the road, a shocking scene unfolded nearby. Soon after the crash, the truck had overturned, scattering its load across the road. Rather than helping the injured child, informing the police, or calling for medical assistance, several bystanders began looting the fish in the viral video.

Witnesses reported that people were seen collecting the fish in sacks and fleeing the scene, even as the young boy’s body lay nearby, drawing a backlash on social media.

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The video has since gone viral, prompting outrage over the insensitivity shown by onlookers. “4th largest economy with low per capita income,” a user wrote. “We are evolving, just backwards,” another user commented.

“In the search of development, religion, politics, nation first we have lost humanity along with these all,” a third user reacted.

On receiving information about the incident, the police officials from the Pupri station arrived at the spot, dispersed the crowd, and recovered the body. The deceased’s remains were sent for post-mortem examination, a report in NDTV said.

The police have seized the pickup truck involved in the accident and confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine responsibility for the crash and the events that followed, the report added.