6 killed, 5 injured after speeding truck hits matador in Birbhum

Kolkata: Six persons including five farmers were killed and five injured when a matador van was hit by a speeding truck in Birbhum's Ilambazar on Friday morning.

The incident occurred at around 6 am at Hetampur village under Dubrajpur block on State Highway 14.

Some locals heard a loud thud and rushed to the spot only to find some people lying on the road wreathing in tremendous pain while some others trapped inside the matador van. The matador driver was also killed in the accident.

The villagers rushed the injured victims to Suri Superspecialty Hospital immediately after the accident. Eyewitnesses said 10 farmers from Ausgram area in East Burdwan were in the vehicle going to Ilambazar to cut paddies but their vehicle met with a fatal road accident on its way when a speeding truck coming from Panagarh hit the matador.

Five farmers died on the spot while another succumbed to his injuries after being taken to the hospital. The five others who sustained critical injuries in the incident have been undergoing treatment. Three of the injured victims were later shifted to Burdwan Medical College and Hospital. They are stated to be serious. An eyewitness said most of the victims fell from the vehicle due to the impact of the accident. Even the injured victims were traumatised when they were rescued by the villagers.

The incident caused traffic congestion in the morning.

Meanwhile, the truck driver fled the spot immediately after the accident. Both the vehicles were damaged in the accident. Traffic movement was restored after police removed the vehicles from the spot. State government will bear the expenses of the treatment of the

injured persons. According to the preliminary investigation, police suspect that both the vehicles were running at high speed at the time of accident.

Police also suspect that low visibility in the early morning due to mist might have caused the accident. The exact reason behind the accident will be confirmed shortly. Raids are on to nab the truck driver.