Bus-auto collision in South Dinajpur claims three lives

BALURGHAT: An accident that occurred on Saturday afternoon claimed three lives in South Dinajpur. Police said the incident took place in Banshihari's Dhumshadighi area on National Highway no. 512 around 51 km from here when a private bus moving towards Balurghat from Malda collided with an auto leaving three died on the spot and injured five persons.

The deceased were the auto passengers who have been identified as Monirul Islam (45), Gulshanara Bibi (40) and Manglu Hembrom (48). They were the residents of Nilgambhir locality under Banshihari police station. The injured persons were rushed to Rashidpur health centre. Later, they were shifted to Gangarampur super-specialty hospital as their condition turned critical.

Following the mishap, there was huge traffic congestion on both sides of NH 512. Hearing about the incident from the local residents, the police arrived the spot and seized the vehicles and restored normalcy. The drivers of both vehicles fled the spot immediately after the accident. According to a local source, the auto was stationed at Dhumshadighi with passengers. It was going to Harirampur from Buniadpur. The bus was coming from opposite direction to Balurghat. It lost control and rammed into the auto. The intensity of the accident was so high that all the auto passengers were thrown out of the vehicle. A couple Monirul and Gulshanara along with a local resident Manglu died on the spot.

Sub-divisional police officer of Gangarampur, Bipul Banerjee, who rushed the spot with a large contingent of police force, said: "We have seized the vehicles. The drivers are absconding. Investigation is on. Police rescued the injured passengers and admitted them to the hospital. The bodies of the deceased have sent for autopsy to Balurghat."