Four dead, 40 injured in separate accidents in North Dinajpur

Four persons were killed and as many as 40 injured in two separate road accidents in the state.

Both the accidents took place at Itahar in North Dinajpur on Thursday. In the first accident, three persons were killed when a bus collided with a truck at Gotlu More area of Itahar on National Highway 34. The incident occurred on Thursday morning when the bus, carrying around 50 persons, lost control and collided head-on with a truck coming from the opposite direction. Around 40 persons were injured in the accident.

The incident has triggered tension among local residents, who took part in the rescue operation and rushed the victims to the Raiganj district hospital, where three persons were declared brought dead while many others underwent treatment. Some of the injured persons are said to be in a serious condition.

The second accident took place when a pickup van lost control and rammed into a stationery dumper from the rear. The driver of the pickup van died on the spot. The incident took place just a few metres away from the place where the first accident had occurred. The helper of the pickup van was injured in the accident. He was initially taken to a primary health centre but was later shifted to the Raiganj district hospital as his condition deteriorated. His condition is stated to be critical.

After being informed of the accident, the police reached the spot and the body of the driver was brought out from the pickup van, the frontal portion of which had been completely damaged. The local residents staged a demonstration before the police, protesting habitual rash driving by drivers on the National Highway 34, resulting in numerous such accidents.

The locals alleged that police often fail to check the vehicles that frequently flout traffic norms despite repeated pleas. They demanded that police be vigilant in the area to ensure that vehicles do not flout the traffic rules by speeding over recommended limits.