Bus topples after drunk driver rash drives, 12 injured

A minibus toppled at Durgapur's Karangapara on Wednesday morning causing injuries to 12 persons. The bus of route 8-B was rushing to its destination while the incident happened. The injured were taken to Durgapur Sub-Divisional Hospital. Police said, the bus was going towards Prantika from Durgapur when the driver lost control over the wheels and the bus toppled sideways. There were 32 passengers in the bus. They were all rescued by police and the local residents.

The passengers alleged that the driver was intoxicated. He was driving the vehicle at a high speed. The passengers had reportedly protested against his act but he allegedly paid no heed to them and continued to drive at the same speed.

"The driver was drunk. We requested him to stop the vehicle so that we can get down. But he did not listen to us and the bus toppled sideways near Karangapara crossing," a passenger said.

Following the incident, the local residents protested in Karangapara crossing demanding police action against such drivers. "We have heard that the accused driver managed to escape from the spot. But 12 passengers were injured as we took them to the hospital," said a local resident.

The locals also alleged that mini buses have always been errant on this route. "You can see that most of the mini buses are overcrowded. They take as many passengers as they can and not pay heed to passengers," alleged another resident.

The traffic policemen, however, are fed up with the mini buses. "They flout traffic norms and have been charged with heavy penalties. But they have not learnt from their mistake," said a traffic police officers.Meanwhile, the police started raids to nab the accused driver.