6 killed, over 50 injured after speeding bus overturns

Kolkata: Six people were killed and as many as 56 others injured, some of them critically, when a bus they were travelling in overturned near Jhitka forest of Lalgarh in Jhargram district on Saturday.

The injured passengers have been undergoing treatment at Midnapore Medical College and Hospital and some at private hospitals as well. Some of the injured passengers are stated to be in critical condition. According to the police, around 18 passengers sustained serious injuries in the accident.

Police said that the private bus was carrying passengers to Belpahari from Jhalbani on Saturday morning.

According to the preliminary investigation, there were around 100 passengers travelling in the bus at the time of the accident. Many of them were going to join a programme organised by the tribal populace at Belpahari.

According to locals, the bus was overcrowded and some of the passengers were found sitting on the roof of the vehicle when it overturned while taking a sharp bend near Jhitka forest.

Eyewitnesses told the police that the bus was running at a high speed at the time of the accident as a result of which the driver could not control it. While taking a sharp turn the driver lost control and the bus overturned and eventually fell into a roadside field. The bus driver fled the spot immediately after the accident. The locals rushed to the spot and rescued the injured passengers. Six persons were declared brought dead after being taken to Midnapore Medical College and Hospital. Some of the injured passengers were taken to other hospitals as well.

After being informed, police reached the spot and started a probe in this regard. They are investigating if the bus developed any technical glitch or the accident occurred due to the over-speeding of the vehicle.

Police added that the driver had applied sudden brakes but failed to control it. The investigators are not quite sure if any other vehicle had came in front of the speeding bus leading to the accident.

They are looking into all possible causes that might have led to the mishap. Some of the passengers and the locals are being probed in this connection so far.

Raids are being conducted to nab the bus driver who has been at large since the accident happened. The bus was later lifted with the help of a crane.

The real cause of the accident will be confirmed by the police after carrying out a probe into the incident.