18 killed in West Bengal road accidents

Malda, Feb 11 – Eighteen people were killed on Tuesday and two others injured in separate accidents on NH-34 in Malda district.

 

The highway has been closed after the accidents. Police said 16 people died when a speeding truck collided head-on with a car on NH-34 at Kaluadighi near Malda town, while two others were killed when their vegetable-laden pick-up van rammed into a stationary truck at Gajol in the district. Two others, who were injured, have been admitted to a local hospital.

 

Fifteen men and a child were among those killed in the first accident which took place about 7.30am at Kaluadighi, police said.

 

While 13 people died on the spot, three others died after being taken to Malda Medical College and Hospital, officials said.

 

The victims were returning to their homes at Raiganj in neighbouring north Dinajpur district after attending a wedding reception at Sahapur near Malda town.

 

The state government has declared Rs 2 lakh as compensation to the families of each of the 16 dead people in the accident, district magistrate Sarat Kumar Dwivedi said.

 

TOI