West Bengal Bus Accident: Six Killed, Including 18-Month-Old Child, After State Transport Bus Crashes into Parked Truck in Jalpaiguri
A devastating road accident in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district claimed the lives of six people, including an 18-month-old child, and left 27 others injured after a state-run passenger bus rammed into a stationary truck on Sunday, police said.
The tragedy occurred at Ulladabri, around eight kilometres from Maynaguri, when a North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) bus travelling from Siliguri to Cooch Behar crashed into a truck parked on the roadside.
The impact of the collision caused severe damage to the front portion of the bus and triggered panic among the passengers.
Additional Superintendent of Police, Jalpaiguri (Headquarters), Shrinivas M.P., identified the deceased as Pampa Saha, Jamuna Roy, Sajal Sarkar, Suvankar Sil, Shyamal Chandra Barman and 18-month-old Bibek Saha.
Police said all those who died and sustained injuries were travelling on the bus. The bus driver has been detained, and an investigation has been initiated to ascertain the circumstances that led to the accident.
Emergency teams and residents rushed to the spot and launched rescue operations. The injured passengers were taken to Jalpaiguri Medical College and Hospital and Maynaguri Government Hospital for treatment.
Doctors declared two of the passengers dead upon arrival.
Authorities said that eight of the injured remain in critical condition and are undergoing intensive medical treatment. Hospital officials are closely monitoring their condition.
The incident has cast a pall of gloom over the region, with families of the victims struggling to come to terms with the sudden loss of their loved ones. The death of 18-month-old Bibek Saha has particularly intensified the sense of grief surrounding the tragedy.
Expressing his condolences, Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said he was deeply saddened by the accident.
In a post on X, Banerjee wrote that the road accident in Maynaguri had claimed several precious lives and left many others injured.
He extended his heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of those undergoing treatment. He also expressed hope that strength and support would reach every family affected by the tragedy.
Police officials said further investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the accident and whether negligence or other factors contributed to the fatal collision.
