Seven people lost their lives and several others sustained injuries in a tragic accident near Siliguri in Darjeeling district of West Bengal on Monday morning. The incident occurred around 6 am when a sport utility vehicle (SUV), reportedly returning from a temple, struck a group of pedestrians on Asian Highway-II.
According to police reports, four of the deceased were aged between 20 and 28 years. The SUV, which bore a Sikkim registration number, allegedly hit the pedestrians at Howdi Jote in the Muni Tea Estate area near Bagdogra. The victims were on their way to the shrine when the vehicle veered off course and caused the fatal collision.
Eyewitnesses reported that the SUV struck 14 roadside markers before crashing into a ditch. Jagannath Roy, the chief of Hetmuri Singhiajhora gram panchayat, confirmed the timeline and details of the incident.
The victims were identified as Prahlad Roy, Gobind Singh (22), Amlesh Chowdhury (20), Kanak Burman (22), Pranab Roy (28), and Padakant Roy. The identity of the seventh victim is yet to be confirmed.
In the aftermath of the accident, the injured were swiftly transported to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri for treatment. The highway was subsequently blocked for several hours by locals demanding prompt action from the authorities.
This tragic incident has once again highlighted the need for stringent road safety measures on busy highways, especially in areas with significant pedestrian traffic.