Five Killed in Tragic Road Accident in Purulia District

Purulia, May 12, 2024 - A tragic road accident claimed the lives of five people and left six others injured on Friday night in Purulia district when an empty dumper truck lost control and hit an e-rickshaw and a two-wheeler on the Purulia-Barakar state highway.

The incident occurred around 10.30 pm at Bhamuria under the jurisdiction of Neturia police station. Four of the deceased were passengers and the driver of the e-rickshaw, locally known as ‘toto’, while the fifth victim was the motorcyclist. None of the victims had been identified until Saturday night.

Witnesses reported that the truck, which was heading to Barakar in West Burdwan from Purulia, suddenly jumped from the down lane to the up lane and turned in the opposite direction. The truck first hit the e-rickshaw and then the motorcycle from behind, almost crushing both under its wheels.

Following the collision, the truck rammed into a tree and came to a halt. The driver managed to escape from the scene.

Local residents rushed the injured passengers to a nearby hospital, but all were declared dead upon arrival. Angered by the incident, residents blocked the road and vandalised a bus that arrived in the area soon after the accident.

The blockade was lifted after police intervention. However, on Saturday morning, local people again blocked the highway, demanding the arrest of the driver. The police later assured them that a search was underway to arrest the driver.