12 killed in accident

MALDA, July 22.– At least 12 tribal people were killed and 52 others injured when a speeding mini truck, in which nearly 70 persons were travelling, hit a tree and overturned at Maheshpur in Bamongola police station area, police today said. They were returning from a wedding party. The driver, who was in a drunken state, lost control of the vehicle on the state highway late last night, returning form Bijanbari. A few of them died on the spot while others succumbed to their injuries on way to hospitals, Mr Dilip Kumar Mandal, SP of Malda, said. A total of 45 people, including groom Sujoy Kisku, were admitted to the Malda district hospital and seven persons were admitted to Modipukur health centre in Bamongola. Some of the female members of the group were also injured. “Many of the youths are in a critical condition and the death toll may go up,” the SP said. The injured driver fled the spot but was arrested latter. The district magistrate, Mr Chittaranjan Das, visited the district hospital early today and asked the hospital authorities to take proper care of the patients. The district magistrate ensured the kin of the victims that the administration would provide the required medicines that were unavailable in the hospital. “We must take action against the owners of goods carriers for allowing drivers to ferry passengers,” Mr Chittaranjan Das said. The victims’ kin will not be entitled to compensation from the insurance firm of the vehicle owner, as the deceased were travelling in a goods carrier. Primary investigation revealed reckless driving caused the accident and almost all members of the marriage party were inebriated. “The bride is safe at home, as she had refused to travel with the drunken members of the marriage party,” police said. SNS