Three members of a Hazaribag family were killed and two people were injured after a truck carrying steel bars rammed their car on NH-33 in Chutupalu Valley near Ramgarh during the intervening hours of Sunday and Monday, according to police.
The victims were identified as Priyanshu Chakraborty, 70, a retired bank employee; his son Pranay, 35; and daughter-in-law Pronayi, 32. Priyanshu’s wife Reena, 60, suffered injuries, while the car’s driver, Raju Kumar, sustained critical injuries and was referred to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences in Ranchi.
Police said Priyanshu and Reena had travelled to Ranchi to receive Pranay and Pronayi, who had arrived from Bengaluru the previous week and were staying with Pronayi’s parents. The family was returning to Hazaribag for Durga Puja when the crash took place on the Ranchi-Patna stretch of NH-33.
The truck hit the car from behind, crushing the vehicle and leaving it mangled, the report said. A police team reached the site and began rescue operations. Pranay and Pronayi died at the scene, while Priyanshu was taken to Ramgarh Sadar Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. Reena is undergoing treatment for her injuries.
Ramgarh police station officer-in-charge Gajendra Kumar Pandey said, “The truck hit the car from behind. Police have initiated further investigation into the incident.” The police statement did not provide further details about the truck driver or any action taken in connection with the collision.
The crash has renewed attention on safety conditions in Chutupalu Valley, a section of NH-33 known for frequent accidents involving heavy vehicles. The stretch includes sharp bends and steep gradients, while brake failure has also been identified as a contributing factor in fatal crashes over the years, according to the report.
The district administration and the National Highways Authority of India have taken measures in the past to address risks on the valley road, but accidents continue to be reported. The latest incident has again placed the operational safety of the Ranchi-Patna corridor, particularly for cars travelling alongside loaded heavy vehicles, under scrutiny.
Police said the investigation into the collision is continuing.
