Motorcycle-tractor collision leaves 3 dead

Balurghat: Three persons were killed when a motorbike collided with a tractor coming from opposite direction at Paranpur on Balurghat-Gazole National Highway on Monday afternoon, around 4 km from here, police said. The man, who was riding the vehicle, Shiba Pahan (19) and his two companions — Gopal Pahan (26) and Bipul Pahan (26) — died on the spot immediately after the collision. Shiba and Gopal were residents of Mahinagar and Bipul belonged to Durlavpur.

The bodies have been sent for postmortem at Balurghat district hospital and the motorbike and the killer tractor have been seized. The tractor driver had fled from the spot after the accident took place.

An eyewitness said the rider could not control the bike as it was moving at a high speed. There was massive traffic congestion on NH as onlookers gathered at the accident spot. Normalcy was restored post one hour after police intervention.

Local residents allege that the traffic police are doing nothing to control reckless driving. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during her visit to Gangarampur on November 19 had expressed concern on the increasing number of accidents here. She had directed district police Chief Prasun Banerjee to strengthen the 'Safe Drive Save Life' campaign undertaken by Bengal government.