Two killed in separate mishaps

Kolkata: Two persons were killed in two separate road accidents in the state on Monday. In the first incident, a biker was killed after being hit by a state-run bus. An irate mob ransacked the bus and later set it on fire.

The incident took place at the Tungidighi area under Karandighi police station in Raigunge on Monday morning. Following the accident, there was a traffic jam in the area till senior police officers from the district rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

Police said that the victim, identified as Kumar Singh, was riding on his motorcycle along National Highway 34 when a Siliguri bound bus hit him. After being hit by the bus, the biker fell on the ground when he was crushed under the rear wheels of the bus.

Local people told the police that the bus was running at top speed when the accident took place. The bus driver could not control the vehicle when the bike came in front of it.

The bus driver had fled from the spot immediately after the accident, leaving the vehicle at the accident site.

Local residents rushed the victim to a nearby hospital where the doctors pronounced him brought dead. An angry mob went on a rampage, ransacking the bus and later set it on fire. They also staged a protest demonstration on NH 34 to protest against the rash driving of vehicles.

According to the preliminary investigation, police suspect that the bus driver could not see the vehicle due to fog in the morning.

Traffic movement was resumed after nearly an hour as the agitators lifted the demonstration following police intervention.

In another accident, a cyclist was killed after being knocked down by a speeding truck.

The incident took place at Hakola area on Panskura-Tamluk state highway on Monday morning. The victim, Ajay Pattanaik (33) was cycling by the side of the road when a truck knocked him down. According to the police, the victim died at the spot.

The body was sent to Tamluk District Hospital for post mortem. The truck driver fled from the spot along with the vehicle after the accident. Police are conducting raids to nab both the drivers.