At least six people were killed in a tragic road accident early Tuesday morning when a passenger van collided head-on with a bus on the Krishnanagar-Karimpur State Highway near Mahishbathan-Kathalia area in West Bengal’s Nadia district.
According to officials, the accident took place around 7:30 am. The van, carrying six passengers from Najirpur in Nadia district, was en route to Digha in Purba Medinipur, a popular seaside tourist destination. The bus, coming from the opposite direction, reportedly lost control after the collision and rammed into a roadside tree, injuring several passengers on board.
The impact of the head-on crash was so severe that the van was completely crushed, leaving all its occupants trapped inside. Locals who heard the noise rushed to the scene and began rescue efforts before emergency services arrived. Police teams from the nearby station reached the spot shortly afterwards and used metal cutters and other rescue equipment to extricate the victims.
“All six people in the van died on the spot due to the intensity of the collision,” a senior police official confirmed. “The van was mangled beyond recognition, and it took considerable effort to retrieve the bodies.”
The identities of the deceased have not yet been confirmed, and their bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination. Meanwhile, the injured bus passengers have been admitted to the Karimpur Rural Hospital, where they are undergoing treatment. Officials said their condition is stable, though some suffered serious injuries.
An investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the accident. Preliminary findings suggest that either high speed, a possible brake failure, or poor visibility could have contributed to the mishap.
This accident adds to a grim day on Indian roads, as separate road crashes in Telangana claimed four lives, while five people were killed in a mining accident in Tamil Nadu. Authorities have renewed calls for caution and strict adherence to traffic rules to prevent such tragedies.
