At least six people were killed and 29 others injured after a North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) bus crashed into a parked truck in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district on Sunday.
The accident took place around 11:30 am on National Highway 27 near Ulladabri in the Maynaguri area. According to police, the bus was travelling from Maynaguri to Domohani in Paschim Bardhaman when it rammed into the rear of a truck parked along the roadside.
Among those killed were a woman and her 18 month old son. The other victims included residents of Maynaguri, Siliguri and Cooch Behar, while one deceased person is yet to be identified.
Among the injured are 15 men, 12 women and two children.
"One of the victims was brought dead to Maynaguri Rural Hospital from the accident site, while the other five succumbed to their injuries at Jalpaiguri Government Medical College and Hospital," a senior investigating officer said.
In a post on X, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari expressed grief over the incident and announced financial assistance for the victims. The next of kin of each deceased will receive ₹5 lakh as compensation, while those seriously injured will get ₹1 lakh and those with minor injuries will receive ₹50,000. The state government has also said it will bear the full cost of treatment for the injured at government hospital.
“My heart goes out to the families who have lost their loved ones in this horrific incident. I offer my deepest condolences to the bereaved kin and pray for the speedy recovery of all the injured passengers," Adhikari wrote.
Preliminary investigations suggest that rain and slippery road conditions may have contributed to the accident. However, police said the exact cause will be known only after a detailed investigation.
