Two persons were killed and several others injured in an accident at a construction site of the Patna Metro, a police officer said on Tuesday.
The incident took place inside a tunnel dug close to the Patna University campus late on Monday night, said Senior Superintendent of Police Rajeev Mishra.
"A pick up van was coursing through the tunnel where its brakes failed, causing it to plough into a group of construction workers", Mishra told reporters.
He added, "Two persons died on the spot while six were taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries. We are investigating the matter. Patna Metro authorities are probing it from their end".
A statement issued by the district administration said the deceased include the driver of the pick-up van and a construction worker, both of them hailing from Odisha.
The injured were undergoing treatment at a private hospital, where one of them was in a critical condition and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), it said.
Monisa Dubey, Public Relations Officer of Patna Metro, told PTI-Bhasha "All those who received injuries are fine and they have been discharged from the hospital after treatment. We are also conducting an inquiry to fix accountability for the mechanical failure that led to the accident".
A three-member team of officials has also been set up to investigate and identify the cause of the accident, and come up with suggestions to enforce safety measures.
The team, which includes the ADM (Law and Order) and the Labour Commissioner, visited the site of the accident where officials of the Patna Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (PMRCL) have been camping.
Authorities were tight-lipped on the charge, made by some eyewitnesses, that "no engineer or supervisor" was inside the tunnel when work was underway.