Kolkata: Six persons, including a child and two women, were killed and at least 29 others injured after a bus hit a stationary truck in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district on Sunday morning, police said.
The accident took place on National Highway-27 near Ulladabri when the North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) bus travelling from Maynaguri to Domohani in Paschim Bardhaman district rammed into the rear of a truck parked on the roadside around 11.30 am, a senior police officer said.
The deceased have been identified as Pampa Saha (a Siliguri resident) and her 18-month-old son Bibek, Jamuna Roy (from Maynaguri), Sajal Sarkar (Maynaguri), Shubhankar Sil (Coochbehar) and an unidentified male, they said.
The injured comprise 15 men, 12 women and two children.
“One of the victims was brought dead to Maynaguri Rural Hospital from the accident site, while the other five succumbed to their injuries at Jalpaiguri Government Medical College and Hospital,” the police officer said.
All the injured passengers have been admitted to Jalpaiguri Government Medical College and Hospital.
The impact left the front portion of the bus mangled and trapped several passengers inside, prompting a rescue operation by police and locals.
Jalpaiguri SP Sujata Kumari Beena Pani said prima facie, adverse weather and slippery road conditions may have contributed to the accident.
“The exact cause will be known only after a detailed investigation,” a senior police officer said.
In a post on X, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said he was “deeply saddened” by the accident at Ulladabri Jorabadh on NH-27 and extended condolences to the families of those killed.
He said the state government would provide compensation to the families of the deceased and injured persons, and bear the cost of treatment of those undergoing medical care.
“My heart goes out to the families who have lost their loved ones in this horrific incident. I offer my deepest condolences to the bereaved kin and pray for the speedy recovery of all the injured passengers,” he said.
Adhikari said the next of kin of each deceased victim would receive Rs 5 lakh, while those grievously injured would be provided Rs 1 lakh and passengers with minor injuries Rs 50,000 as compensation.
