Five killed in truck-van collision at Nadia

Kolkata: Five persons died after a pick-up van rammed into the back of a parked truck at Nabadwip in Nadia district on the wee hours on Sunday.

The victims, along with few other people, were returning from a funeral. Fifteen persons have been injured in the accident.

According to sources, Srimati Sarkar of Krishnanagar passed away on Saturday.

After completing the funeral rituals at home, her son Nilkamal Sarkar (60) arranged a pick-up van to go to the crematorium. Later, at night they started for Nabadwip where Srimati would be cremated.

After completing the cremation on the wee hours of Sunday, Nilkamal and others who went to the crematorium were returning home on the pick-up van. Near Pantha Nagar in Kotwali area, the pick up van

driver lost control and rammed into the back of a truck loaded with sand which was parked on the roadside.

Hearing the sound of the accident, local residents ran to the help the victims. Kotwali police station was also informed. Later, local residents and police rescued the injured persons and admitted them at the Bishnupur Hopsital.

Local sources informed that two persons had died on the spot. One of them got stuck inside the cabin of the pick-up van. The police had to cut the metal portion of the pick up van to retrieve the body. Later, five persons were declared brought dead at the hospital, including Nilkamal. Rest of the deceased persons were identified as Anita Sikdar (30), Saraswati Biswas (40), Pabitra Biswas (30) and Sangeeta Mallick (14). Fifteen persons are still undergoing treatment. It is suspected that the drive of the pick-up van had fallen asleep while driving. As a result, he was not able to control the vehicle.