Four individuals lost their lives, and ten others sustained severe injuries when a North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) bus collided with the rear of a parked trailer in the Maynaguri area of Jalpaiguri district, North Bengal. The tragic incident occurred on National Highway 27 on Sunday. Among the 57 passengers on board, 10 are reported to be in critical condition, with four fatalities recorded on the way to the hospital.
One of the deceased has been identified as Sajal Sarkar, while the identities of the other victims are yet to be confirmed. Jalpaiguri Superintendent of Police Sujata Kumari Veenapani has verified the death toll, stating that four individuals lost their lives in the accident. The injured passengers are receiving medical care, with 37 undergoing treatment at Jalpaiguri Super Speciality Hospital and another 20 admitted to Maynaguri Rural Hospital.
The collision took place after the NBSTC bus, en route from Siliguri to Cooch Behar, crossed the Teesta Bridge and entered the Ulladabari area. Initial investigations indicate that the speeding bus crashed into the stationary trailer on the side of the highway, resulting in a severe impact that lodged the front portion of the bus inside the rear section of the trailer.
Following the crash, several passengers in the front rows were trapped in the bus’s wreckage. Prompted by the sound of the collision, local residents initiated rescue efforts, with police, fire services personnel, and ambulances from Maynaguri Police Station joining the rescue operation. The rescue mission, which lasted for hours, involved cutting through the twisted metal parts of the bus to free trapped passengers.
The injured individuals, some of whom suffered serious head and chest injuries, were swiftly transported to nearby hospitals for treatment. Inspector-in-Charge of Maynaguri Police Station Subal Chandra Ghosh stated, “A tragic accident occurred in the Ulladabari area, with locals leading the initial rescue efforts. An investigation into the incident, which is believed to involve the bus rear-ending a stationary trailer, has been initiated.”
Traffic flow on the national highway was disrupted temporarily due to the accident, but normalcy was restored after the damaged vehicles were cleared using a crane. Authorities are now examining the circumstances surrounding the collision to determine if driver negligence or other factors contributed to the tragic event.
