On Wednesday morning, a tragic head-on collision occurred on Basanti Highway in the Basirhat subdivision of North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, resulting in the deaths of three individuals, as reported by officials.
The incident, which took place around 7 a.m. in the vicinity of the Minakhan police station, also left at least ten others with severe injuries. These individuals are currently in critical condition at a hospital, fighting for their lives.
According to a police spokesperson, Lakkhan Mondal, a passenger in the autorickshaw, stated that the three-wheeler was making its way from Malancha to Kolkata, carrying multiple passengers. Suddenly, a car traveling in the opposite direction from Kolkata lost control and collided head-on with the autorickshaw. The force of the impact was so great that the smaller vehicle was crumpled and thrown off the road.
Witnesses described the collision’s intensity, noting that the screams of those trapped inside the autorickshaw filled the air. Two victims died at the scene, while a third passed away en route to the hospital.
Emergency responders, including personnel from the Minakhan police and central forces stationed for election duties in the area, quickly arrived at the scene. The ten injured passengers were initially taken to Minakhan Rural Hospital but were later transferred to a Kolkata facility for more advanced medical care due to their critical conditions.
The police have seized both vehicles involved in the accident and are conducting an investigation to ascertain the circumstances that led to the crash.
Pratik Mondal, the candidate from the Indian Secular Front (ISF) for the Minakhan Assembly seat, visited the hospital to express his condolences to the victims’ families. He assured them of his support, stating, “I am committed to assisting each affected family in every possible way.” Mondal also highlighted the ongoing issue of fatalities on the Basanti Highway, attributing them to reckless driving.
Sweety Kumari, a journalist with The Indian Express, has been reporting from West Bengal for over a decade. With eight years at The Indian Express, she brings significant expertise and authority to her coverage across various critical topics.
Her extensive background includes reporting on crime, defense, health, and politics, along with an investigative focus on human-interest stories. Kumari’s career began in entertainment and lifestyle journalism, and she holds a postgraduate degree in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University, as well as an Honours degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College.
Fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili, her multilingual skills enhance her ability to connect with diverse communities, while her regional roots provide her with a profound understanding of the cultural and political landscape she reports on. This combination of experience and academic background positions her as a trusted and authoritative voice in journalism.
