A road accident claimed the lives of four tea workers and left three others critically injured in Alipurduar district of North Bengal on Saturday morning.
According to police and local sources, the victims were residents of the area and worked in nearby tea gardens. They had earlier been employed at the Vernabari Tea Garden, which has since shut down, and were currently working at another tea Garden.
“As part of their daily routine, the workers had set out on bicycles for work in the morning. They were travelling along the Hasimara–Jaigaon stretch of the Asian Highway when a speeding car allegedly rammed into them from behind shortly after they crossed the Jaigaon area,” said a police officer.
Eyewitnesses said the impact was severe. The workers were thrown onto the road, and the vehicle reportedly ran over them. The scene was described as chaotic, with blood covering the highway.
Local residents rushed to help and transported the injured to Latabari Block Hospital. Doctors declared four workers dead on arrival. The three others, who sustained serious injuries, were later referred to Alipurduar District Hospital, where they remain under treatment.
Police reached both the accident site and the hospital. A search operation has been launched to trace the vehicle involved in the incident. Preliminary investigations suggest that overspeeding may have been the primary cause of the accident. However, officials said further inquiry is underway to determine how the vehicle entered the group of cyclists.
Family members of the deceased said the workers had left home for work as usual and described the tragedy as unimaginable.
Local residents have alleged that reckless driving is common along the Asian Highway, with inadequate surveillance and little enforcement of speed limits. They warned that unless strict measures are implemented, similar accidents may continue to occur.
Police officials said surveillance would be intensified and efforts are being made to identify and apprehend the driver responsible.
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