10 killed, two injured in separate road accidents

Jalpaiguri/Gangtok March 19: Nine persons were killed and two other injured when a Mahindra Bolero collided head on with a bus around 5: 30 this morning near Lakhipara tea estate on NH 31C in Banarhat. While Suresh Oraon (26), Sankar Oraon (27), Roshan Oraon (19), Chilaram Oraon (35), Shyamal Oraon, Vinod Oraon and the driver Dhoni Oraon (30) died on the spot, Poonam Gowala died on way to Banarhat hospital. Ramesh Mahali (30) died after he was shifted to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital.

Another critically injured was referred to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital from Banarhat. A seriously injured person is being treated at Birpara State general Hospital. Sources said that all the passengers were heading towards Kurti Tea estate 50 kms away in Nagrakata to attend a marriage ceremony.

With the help of the locals, the victims were rushed to Banerhat hospital where the injured were given the primary aid.  While two of them were referred to NBMCH, one was sent to Birpara hospital.

The driver and helper of the bus have fled after the incident. Banerhat police have taken the bus into the police station. Primarily police suspect that the bus was probably being driven by the helper and not the driver which led into the accident. “We are also probing whether the driver of the bus was in an intoxicated condition,” said Amit P Javalgi, Jalpaiguri SP.

In another similar incident in Gangtok a driver succumbed to his injuries when a vehicle met with an accident at Chota Singtam 4 km away from Ranipool. The deceased Robin Subba is a resident of Assam and hi body has been forwarded to central referral hospital for post mortem.