The victims at Tehatta sub divisional hospital
Krishnanagar, Aug. 8: 8 persons including 4 women and a child were killed and 37 others were injured when a bus they were travelling in fell into a road side ditch filled with water as its driver lost control while driving the vehicle in a high speed on the Krishnanagar-Karimpur state highway on today afternoon. The state government has announced a compensation for Rupees 2-lakhs for each of the victim’s family.
The accident occurred at about 1pm when the fateful bus named “Laxminarayan” of Krishnanagar-Palashipara route overturned and fell into the ditch in Galakata village of Tehatta in a bid to make space for a bus that was coming from opposite direction. “It skidded before overturned and felled into the ditch”, an eye witness said.
The spot of the accident is about 53km from Krishnanagar.
Farmers working on the adjacent paddy field rushed to rescue the passengers
The fateful bus that overturned and fell into a road side ditch filled with water
breaking open the windows of the bus which went half merged inside water filled ditch.They smashed the windowpanes of the bus and brought out the victims. Later police and civic volunteers flung into action and rescued about 50 passengers. They were rushed to Thatta sub divisional hospital, 2km away from the spot, where 8 passengers were declared brought dead. 37 passengers were later transferred to Saktinagar district hospital in Krishnanagar.
The eight deceased persons were identified as Nazimuddin Mandal (66), Anushka Haldar (2), Renjira Biwi (24), Rehana Biwi (35), Bisakha Halder (40), Rezaul Karim Mandal (50), Rajesh pramanik (40) and Rita Pramanik (34). Most of the victim’s are residents of Taranipur in Tehatta.
Police has started a case against the driver of the bus for culpable homicide and reckless driving. However, the driver managed to flee after the accident.
Nadia police superintendent Sheesh Ram Jhajharia said: “The reason behind the accident could not be ascertained immediately. But as per eye witness the bus running in a very high speed. The driver list control apparently due to high speed”.