Abhishek Banerjee injured in accident at Durgapur Expressway, now stable

Another vehicle carrying Manas Bhunia, which was following Abhishek’s SUV, also lost control and fell sideways. Bhunia, however, escaped unhurt. The two were returning to the city after attending a party workers’ meeting in Murshidabad earlier on Tuesday. Two others were injured in the accident and are undergoing treatment.

Abhishek was rushed to Belle Vue clinic in South Kolkata, where he was admitted in the Intensive Treatment Unit (ITU). A team comprising 14 doctors, led by Dr Anirban Neogi, examined him. They said he was out of danger and stable, but would be kept under observation for next 48 hours.

“He is stable and the CT scan report does not show changes. It will be done once again later,” doctors told the media. Abhishek’s left eye has become swollen and there is a deep cut below it, they said. Fortunately, his cornea has not been affected. He was recovering from the initial trauma and was able to talk to the doctors. There are injuries on his left knee as well.

The accident took place near Singur when the driver of Abhishek’s car lost control and hit a milk van, which was being towed away by a recovery vehicle. Abhishek’s car overturned and the car behind him also lost control and fell sideways.

Security personnel, who were part of the convoy, stopped traffic movement and managed to rescue Abhishek. He was taken to Belle Vue clinic in another vehicle. A medical board from the clinic is treating him and a CT scan was done.

Ministers including Sovan Chatterjee, Firhad Hakim, Partha Chatterjee and Tapan Dasgupta reached the hospital before Abhishek was brought in. Chief minister Mamata Banrjee, along with Aroop Biswas, reached the hospital late Tuesday evening. She told the newsmen that Abhishek was stable. Other family members reached the nursing home later. Governor KN Tripathi went to the hospital and enquired about his health.

As soon as the news of his accident spread, hundreds of Yuva Trinamool followers rushed to the hospital. The Chief Minister said that President Pranab Mukherjee and other leaders from Delhi had called her up and asked about Abhishek’s condition.

“It is good to see that he has become so popular, that so many people are concerned about his health,” she said. CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty and state Congress president Adhir Chowdhury too expressed concern and wished him a speedy recovery.

The CID is conducting a probe into the incident. CID officials and a team of the Fatal Squad Traffic Police of Kolkata Police went to the spot and began investigations. They collected samples from the accident site and examined the tyre pressure of the vehicles and condition of the engines. Police cordoned off the area and the damaged vehicles were towed away.

Meanwhile, the drivers of the milk van and the recovery vehicle have been detained.