Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata

Kolkata, Apr 8: A tragic road accident in North 24 Parganas on Wednesday left at least three people dead and ten others critically injured after a head-on collision between a speeding car and a passenger-loaded auto-rickshaw.

The incident occurred on the Basanti Highway in the Minakhan area of the Basirhat subdivision. According to police, the crash took place right outside the Minakhan Gram Panchayat office.

The auto-rickshaw was reportedly travelling from Malancha towards Kolkata with several passengers on board when a fast-moving four-wheeler coming from the opposite direction lost control and rammed into it. The impact was so severe that the auto-rickshaw was thrown off the road.

Eyewitnesses said two people died instantly at the scene, while another succumbed to injuries on the way to the hospital. Around ten others sustained serious injuries and are currently fighting for their lives.

One of the injured passengers, Laxman Mondal, told local media that the collision happened suddenly, leaving passengers with no time to react.

Police personnel from the Minakhan station, along with central forces deployed nearby, quickly initiated rescue operations. The injured were first taken to Minakhan Rural Hospital for immediate care and later shifted to hospitals in Kolkata due to the severity of their condition.

Authorities have seized both vehicles involved and launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Meanwhile, Pratik Mandal visited the hospital to meet victims’ families. Calling the incident deeply distressing, he assured support to those affected and pledged assistance to the injured and the families of the deceased.