In India's UP, Muslim man gets death threat for playing Hindu God Rama

Highlights:

• Victims included Indian, Chinese, and American passengers, making it a global tragedy.
• The deceased Indian national was identified as Shankar Kumar Jha, 65, from Madhubani.
• Investigators say the driver’s distraction caused the bus to overturn off the I-90.
• No signs of mechanical failure, impairment, or intoxication were found.
• Massive rescue effort included air ambulances, translators, and multiple hospitals treating survivors.

A 65-year-old Indian man from Bihar was among five people killed in a devastating tour bus crash in western New York on Friday. The incident occurred as the bus, carrying 54 passengers, was returning to New York City after a trip to Niagara Falls. The accident took place on the New York State Thruway near Pembroke, approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of Buffalo.

Victims from around the world

In addition to the Indian tourist, the tragedy claimed the lives of passengers from various backgrounds. The New York State Police identified the deceased as Shankar Kumar Jha, 65, from Madhubani, India; Pinki Changrani, 60, of East Brunswick, New Jersey; Xie Hongzhuo, 22, a Columbia University student from Beijing, China; Zhang Xiaolan, 55, of Jersey City, New Jersey; and Jian Mingli, 56, also of Jersey City. The bus was hosting international tourists, including travelers from China and the Philippines, making the tragedy a truly global loss.