A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) truck knocked down two bicyclists at Onda in Bankura on Friday morning. Soon after the incident, the truck driver lost control over wheels as his vehicle plunged into a roadside waterbody.
Later, police learnt that the bicyclists, who got severely injured, were actually higher secondary candidates on their way to the examination centres. They were shifted to a local hospital, after getting treatment from Onda Super Specialty Hospital.
Four CRPF jawans were also injured after the truck fell in the waterbody. They were also taken to hospital.
Shribas Bauri and Abhijit Banerjee were admitted to the hospital in a critical condition. "First, we took them Onda Super Specialty Hospital and later shifted them to Bankura Medical College and Hospital," confirmed a police officer.
The investigation revealed that the incident took place at Kalisen on National Highway 60. "It was really an unfortunate incident. Those two boys were riding the bicycles at a normal speed. But the truck suddenly hit them from behind. Even the truck could not check the speed and fell in the water body," said a local resident.
However, a police source said the truck was trying to overtake a private car. The driver of the truck, who was probably intoxicated, accelerated from there. After overtaking the private car, the truck could not check the speed and hit those bicyclists and fell in the water body. Police have started a case. "We are now investigating the case. We cannot comment on the incident right now," a police officer said.
In another incident at Chanchal in Malda, a private car mowed down a man crossing road. The unidentified man was taken to a nearby hospital. Although local residents recovered his bag, nothing was found except some old clothes.