Tragic Bus Accident in West Bengal Claims Two Lives and Injures 30

Kolkata, June 23: A passenger bus overturned and fell into a ditch in the Arambagh area of Hooghly district, West Bengal, on Tuesday. The accident resulted in the deaths of two women, while approximately 30 other passengers sustained injuries.

According to officials, some of the injured are reported to be in serious condition and are currently receiving treatment at a local hospital. Frustration erupted among local residents due to the delayed arrival of ambulances, prompting them to voice their grievances against the administration. The police arrived at the scene to manage the tense situation.

Local sources indicate that the bus, carrying around 50 passengers, was traveling from Bardhaman city in Purba Bardhaman district to Tarakeswar in Hooghly district. The driver lost control of the vehicle in the Adamabandh area of Arambagh, leading to the bus overturning and plunging into the ditch.

Hearing the loud crash, nearby residents rushed to the scene to initiate rescue efforts. A police team later arrived after being informed of the incident.

Authorities reported that two female passengers died at the scene. The deceased have been identified as 65-year-old Lakshmi Murmu and 35-year-old Sharmila Soren, both residents of the Dhadan area in Purba Bardhaman district, who were en route to visit the Tarakeswar temple. Their bodies will be handed over to their families after post-mortem examinations.

Injured passengers have been admitted to Arambagh Medical College and Hospital, with some in critical condition.

Local residents have attributed the accident to the poor condition of the road, claiming that requests for repairs have been ignored by the administration for a long time. There was also significant anger regarding the late arrival of ambulances.

Notably, a recent accident in the Maynaguri area of Jalpaiguri district involved a passenger bus from the North Bengal State Transport Corporation colliding with a stationary trailer on National Highway-27. That incident resulted in four fatalities and left ten others seriously injured.