Kaliganj, March 19: Two Madhyamik appearing girls were run over by a state bus on the NH34 in Panighata village of Kaliganj on Monday morning when they were going the examination centre in Debagram riding on the pillion of a scooter being driven by one of the girl’s brother.
The victims identified as Nazima Khatun and Masuda Khatun, both aged 16 and residents of Mirzapur village, died on the spot as a Berhampur bound bus mowed them beyond recognition. Saidul Seikh, who was driving the scooter was critically injured and admitted to Saktinagar district hospital in Krishnanagar with two mangled legs. Saidul is brother of deceased Masuda.
According to the eye witness the accident occurred when Saidul tried to avert a head on collision with bus coming from opposite direction after overtaking a lorry running ahead on him. “The youth running the scooter lost control as he hit the concrete divider on his right side. The girls fell on the road and crushed under the wheels of the fast approaching bus coming from behind within few seconds. The youth luckily survived as he fell on the divider. But, His legs were mangled as it was crushed under the wheels of the bus”, said a local resident who witnessed the bizarre incident.
None of the girls and the youth was riding the scooter had helmets on their head when the accident occurred. The two victims were students of Panighata Umadas Memorial High School, who were going to Debagram Sibaram Anandamoyee Vidyapith, around 6km from their home in Mirzapur.
The accident ignited tension in the area as a violent mob attacked police personnel accusing of inaction to control reckless driving leading to suspension of traffic movement for about two hours on NH34. Violent mob had rained stones preventing police to recover bodies and ransacked at least seven vehicles including police jeep while injuring two cops who were later admitted to hospital.
Police have arrested the driver of the bus and six other persons for inciting violence and for attack on police personnel.