Two youth killed, one critical, as bike rams into road divider

A speeding motorcycle collided with a road divider on the Ambedkar Bridge of Eastern Metropolitan Bypass on Friday afternoon, claiming the lives of two of its three occupants.

The rider of the bike and its two pillion riders were rushed to the hospital. However, two of them were declared dead on arrival, while the third one is undergoing treatment and reportedly fighting for his life.

The three victims were cousins Kushal Mistry (17), Suman Mistry (16) and Kunal Mistry, and speeding their motorcycle when the accident occurred. Police said Kushal, who was riding the bike over the speed limit, could not control the vehicle and it collided with a road divider.

The surface of the road was slippery after rainfall, which caused the bike to go out of control. “They were rash youth and were riding the bike at a very high speed. Kushal was riding the bike. He lost control of the bike and crashed it onto the divider,” said a police officer.

Kushal and Suman, who was seated behind him, were brought dead on arrival, while Kunal is at the hospital in a critical condition, police said.

It may be mentioned that a Kolkata Police sergeant, on his way to office at Thakurpukur traffic guard, was killed when he came under the rear wheels of a bus on Jessore Road near Airport Gate number 1 crossing a few weeks ago. The victim Animesh Roy, 26, had joined the police service in 2014 and used to regularly travel to Thakurpukur from his home at Birati, 36 km away, on his service motorbike.

Friday’s incident was a grim reminder of the one in Jessore. Witnesses had said that Roy was heading towards Nagerbazar from the Airport end when he overtook a car from the right and possibly skidded off a dusty and worn-out road. As he fell down with his bike, the school bus of a private school ran over the sergeant. The rear wheels of the bus went over the sergeant’s head and the bus driver sped away towards Nagerbazar without stopping.

The Kolkata Police is trying hard to curb road accidents, while promoting the state government’s signature campaign ‘Safe Drive, Safe Life.

“The younger generation is prone to speedy bike riding. We are keeping strict vigil during the Puja days,” said the officer.