The BJP has alleged that the mishap in Pirpainti on Sunday, in which 10 persons were killed, was the result of the utter negligence on part of the local administration to provide better traffic management.

The accident took place after a truck rammed into an autorickshaw near Pasaichak on Pirpainti-Barahat road, around 55km east of Bhagalpur district headquarters.

While six passengers died on the spot, another died at Pirpainti referral hospital. Angry villagers blocked the road and ransacked Payalpur police outpost. They alleged not a single administrative official or police officer had visited the site nine hours after the accident.

"Had the Pirpainti police taken adequate measures and enforced strict action on violation of traffic norms, the lives could have been saved," said BJP spokesperson Dilip Kumar Mishra. "The major issues that lead to such accidents include overloaded trucks and reckless driving. The areas fall under Jharkhand's Sahebganj and Godda districts which are mostly neglected by the local administration."

Mishra said the BJP leaders, including a few former MLAs and MPs staged a hunger strike at Kahalgaon on May 20 to address issues such as repairing dilapidated stretches on the NH-80 from Bhagalpur-Mirjachowki (Pirpainti) and other traffic problems. Dilip said the authorities concerned, including Kahalgaon sub-divisional officer Arunav Chandra Verma and sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Ramanand Kumar Kousal, had assured them of taking adequate measures to repair the 55km stretch of the national highway.

"We concluded our hunger strike following the assurances but noting was changed in the traffic system." Dilip said. "The dilapidated condition of the National Highway-80 from Pirpainti to Bhagalpur is so bad that no vehicle can ply on it in a proper manner. Three persons succumbed to their injuries en route to Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital. It took 8 hours to travel 55km and they couldn't be treated on time."

Former Khagaria MP Anil Yadav and former Bihpur MLA Sailendra Kumar said accidents and loss of life had become a common scenario.

Anil said: "There are several cases where patients have lost their lives while they were being taken to Bhagalpur for better treatment."

BJP leader Munna Singh said public resentment was simmering against the local administration for its failure to curb traffic violations.

"One can easily imagine the public sentiments as the mob badly manhandled Pirpainti MLA Ramvilash Paswan after the accident.

SDPO Kousal said the police stations concerned have been instructed to carry out strict vigil in the area. "We have started conducting raids to curb drivers from Jharkhand who consume liquor and enter in Bihar," he said.