7 killed as auto-rickshaw collides head-on with container truck in Jharkhand

An auto-rickshaw collided head-on with a container truck in Latehar district, killing seven people and injuring several others. Police and local residents launched rescue operations as officials worked to identify the victims and investigate the crash.The crash triggered panic in the area, with villagers rushing to the spot and alerting the police. (Credits: Sanjeev Giri)At least seven people were killed and several others injured after an auto-rickshaw collided head-on with a container truck in Jharkhand's Latehar district on Saturday evening, police said.Rescue operations were underway, with the injured being shifted to hospital.The accident occurred in the Derh Tangwa Ghat area under the Chandwa police station limits. According to preliminary information, the auto-rickshaw was travelling from Chandwa when it collided with an oncoming container truck.Local residents said the impact of the collision was so severe that several passengers travelling in the auto-rickshaw were trapped beneath the container. The crash triggered panic in the area, with villagers rushing to the spot and alerting the police and district administration. POLICE LAUNCH RESCUE OPERATIONUpon receiving the information, Chandwa Police Station in-charge Manoranjan Prasad Singh, along with police personnel, reached the accident site and launched rescue and relief operations. Police, assisted by local residents, worked to extricate those trapped in the wreckage and shift the injured to nearby hospitals for treatment.Officials said seven people died on the spot, while several others sustained injuries. The condition of the injured was not immediately known. The administration is in the process of identifying the deceased and injured. Authorities said the exact number of people travelling in the auto-rickshaw and the identities of the victims are being verified.Police have begun an investigation into the cause of the accident. The circumstances that led to the head-on collision are yet to be ascertained.The accident briefly disrupted traffic in the area as rescue teams cleared the damaged vehicles from the road. Further details are awaited as officials continue rescue operations and gather information about the victims.Police said a detailed investigation will be carried out to determine the sequence of events leading to the fatal crash.- EndsPublished By: Ritaban MisraPublished On: Aug 15, 2026 20:00 IST