
Kolkata, June 23 (IANS) Two women were killed and 30 others injured when a passenger bus overturned and fell into a ditch in the Arambagh area of West Bengal’s Hooghly district on Tuesday, officials said.
Many of the injured, some of whose condition was termed critical, are still undergoing treatment at a local hospital.
Locals expressed anger at the administration over the delayed arrival of an ambulance at the accident spot. When the situation became tense, the police arrived at the scene and brought it under control.
According to local sources, the bus, which had about 50 passengers on board, was heading towards Tarakeshwar in Hooghly district from Burdwan town when the accident occurred in the Adambandh area of Arambagh as the driver lost control.
Hearing the loud noise, locals rushed to the accident site and started the rescue work first. Later, after receiving the news, a police team also reached there.
According to the police, two female passengers died on the spot. The deceased have been identified as Lakshmi Murmu, 65, and Sharmila Soren, 35. Both of them hail from the Dhadan area of East Burdwan district. The two pilgrims were going to the Tarakeshwar temple. The bodies will be handed over to the family after the autopsy.
The injured in the accident have been rescued and taken to Arambagh Medical College and Hospital. Some of them are in critical condition.
Local residents are blaming the poor condition of the road for the accident. Allegedly, despite repeated requests for repair, no solution has been found. The locals became angry as the ambulance arrived late. However, local police soon brought the situation under control.
Four people were killed, and 10 were seriously injured after a passenger bus of the North Bengal State Transport Corporation hit the back of a trailer parked in the Maynaguri area of Jalpaiguri district recently. The tragic accident took place on National Highway 27.
–IANS
sch/vd