Three killed, another hurt in accident

Kolkata: Three persons were killed while another was injured in a road accident on the Basanti Highway early on Sunday when a truck collided head on with an auto-rickshaw. The victims were Bablu Das (35), the auto-driver from Gobinda Khatik Road in Tiljala and two fish-traders: Subir Sanpui (67) of Choubhaga School Road and Sandip Das (40) of Choubhaga Majhipara.

They were accompanied by another man: Sudarshan Burman (56), a vegetable seller from Nasirabad in Anandapur, in the auto, which was coming to Sealdah. Subir, Sandip and Sudarshan used to travel to Sealdah to procure stocks of fish and vegetables from the market to sell them locally, according to sources.

Near Arupota crossing, their three-wheeler was dashed by a truck coming from the opposite direction at a high speed at around 2.50 am, preliminary investigation revealed.

Bablu, Subir and Sanjoy were killed at the spot. Sudarshan suffered deep injuries. The auto got mangled. The truck heading towards South 24 Parganas however fled from the spot. Cops of the Pragati Maidan police station rushed to the spot.

The three bodies were recovered while the injured was rescued. Sudarshan has been admitted at Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital. The three bodies were sent for post-mortem. The police initiated a case on rash driving charge. The damaged auto has been seized.