Two women lost their lives, and at least 20 others were injured after a passenger bus overturned into a roadside ditch in West Bengal’s Hooghly district on Tuesday morning, police said. The accident occurred near Adambandh in Arambagh. The deceased have been identified as Lakshmi Murmu (65) and Sharmila Soren (35), both residents of Dharan Adivasi Para in Raina, East Bardhaman.
According to reports, around 40 passengers had boarded the bus from Dharan bus stand. The vehicle was travelling towards Tarakeswar via Mashagram when it suddenly lost control near Adambandh after a loud noise was heard. The bus then plunged into a roadside ditch and overturned.
Passengers managed to scramble out of the overturned vehicle, while local residents rushed to the spot and initiated rescue efforts. Police teams from Hooghly rural and Arambagh police stations later arrived and carried out rescue operations.
The injured were taken to Arambagh Medical College and Hospital. While some passengers were discharged after receiving first aid, several others remain hospitalised due to the severity of their injuries.
The bodies of the deceased have been sent to the same hospital for post-mortem examination.
Locals have alleged that the poor condition of the road in the Adambandh area may have contributed to the accident. “The road has been in a bad state for a long time, and accidents occur here frequently,” said Bajra Alam Chowdhury, a local resident who participated in the rescue operations. He also claimed that there was a delay of nearly an hour before police and ambulance services reached the spot.
Mitali Patra, a passenger on the bus, said that the group was travelling to Sheoraphuli for a holy dip in the Ganges as part of a Puja ritual. “Suddenly, the bus plunged down. It was fully occupied, and many passengers were injured. Two of them have died,” she said.
Following the incident, Arambagh MLA Hemanta Bag and Pursurah MLA Biman Ghosh visited the hospital to meet the injured.
Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident. Officials said they are examining whether the crash was due to mechanical failure or other factors, and will question the driver and passengers once they recover.
Follow us
