Eastern Bypass accident: Boy killed, locals demand urgent safety measures
Siliguri: A 5-year-old boy lost his life in a road accident on the Eastern Bypass under the Dabgram-2 Gram Panchayat.
The child identified as Vivan Roy, a resident of Subhashpally, was travelling on a scooter with his mother when she lost control of the vehicle near Buraburi temple. Both fell onto the road, and a truck ran over the boy.
Vivan was immediately rushed to a nearby private nursing home by locals but succumbed to his injuries later that night. The incident has sparked widespread outrage among residents, who blame the “poor” road conditions and “lack” of adequate safety measures for the recurring tragedies on the stretch. This was not the first fatality on the Eastern Bypass. Over the past few months, several accidents have claimed lives, including a cyclist in December 28, a 12-year-old boy in November, and a seriously injured resident of East Chayanpara on January 10.
Locals have long demanded the installation of streetlights and a proper traffic post to address the road’s hazardous conditions. They allege that the absence of sufficient lighting and traffic management has made the area prone to accidents, especially at night.
“We have been asking for lights and a traffic post for years, but nothing has been done. How many more lives must be lost before action is taken,” asked Biplab Roy, a local resident.
Mitali Malakar, Panchayat Pradhan said: “We have sent proposals to higher authorities for the installation of streetlights. Efforts are being made to resolve the issues at the earliest.” Meanwhile, Rakesh Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), said: “People often misplace divider blocks, take illegal U-turns, and enter the wrong routes. In this case, the woman lost control while overtaking. Traffic rules must be followed,” he said. He further said, “A survey of the road is underway. Necessary measures will be taken as per requirements including repairing dividers and installing traffic post, to prevent
further incidents.”
