A tragic road accident claimed four lives and left three others seriously injured late Friday night in Melli Kiran, Kalimpong district. The incident occurred when a car lost control on a hilly stretch adjacent to National Highway 10 and plunged nearly 50 meters into a deep ditch.
Police said the car was travelling from Bajojhari towards Gangtok when it suddenly veered off the road near Melli Kiran. Eyewitnesses reported that the driver may have been momentarily blinded by the bright dipped headlights of an oncoming vehicle, leading to the fatal loss of control.
Four passengers died on the spot. They have been identified as Kamal Subba (44), the driver and a resident of Bajojhari, his daughter Sameera Subba (20), Januka Dorji (35) and Nita Gurung (58).
“The injured – Sunita Thapa (40), Sandriya Rai (8), and Samiul Dorji (5) – were rescued by locals and administration teams and admitted to Melli Sikkim Hospital, where they are currently undergoing treatment. Hospital sources confirmed that their condition is stable, though they remain under observation,” said a police officer.
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Local residents said the stretch of road where the accident took place is notoriously dangerous, especially at night, due to poor lighting and frequent rainfall.
“It’s risky to drive there after dark. Accidents are common because the area is steep and visibility is poor,” said a resident of Melli.
Rescue operations were initially delayed due to the difficult terrain, but the Kalimpong police, disaster management team and fire department arrived soon after being alerted. The vehicle was recovered from the ditch early Saturday morning.
Kalimpong District Magistrate, Bala Subrahmanyam, said, “It has been raining continuously in the hills. The car somehow lost control and fell into a deep gorge. Four people died on the spot and three were injured, including a five-year-old child. We have contacted the families of the victims and an investigation is underway.”
The Alipore Meteorological Department has forecast light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms across North Bengal till Wednesday, along with heavy rain in parts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Kalimpong over the weekend. Due to persistent rain, landslides often disrupt movement on National Highway 10, which has heightened local fears following Friday’s tragedy.
The bodies of the deceased will be handed over to their families after post-mortem examinations. A pall of gloom has descended over Bajojhari and Melli, as the community mourns the loss of four of its members in this devastating accident.
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