Three Dead As Truck Hits Toll Plaza

Howrah: Three people were killed and two others left seriously injured as a truck carrying sand overturned and hit the toll plaza on Vidyasagar Setu on Sunday.

According to police, the truck driver lost control while coming down the bridge at a great speed. The vehicle hurtled down the sixth lane of the toll booth, killing Shakil Ahmed, a 35-year-old employee at the toll plaza, who tried to stop the truck. Ahmed was declared dead when he was brought to the local hospital. The driver and helper, along with two pedestrians, were seriously injured and admitted to SSKM Hospital in a critical condition. Two of them died in the hospital later in the evening.

The sixth lane, where the accident took place was soon closed in order to avoid traffic congestion. Later, a crane was brought in to remove the overturned vehicle. Police said there is a spurt in accidents along the Vidyasagar Setu after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee shifted the state secretariat to Nabanna located close to the toll tax. There had been increased vigils and speed breakers which have been introduced to keep the speeding vehicles under control.

Police also said that they are keeping an eye on the vehicular movement on the bridge, especially when the ministers and the chief minister travel through it, so that no accidents happen. Earlier, due to a similar accident at the toll booth, there was traffic congestion in the bridge and the CM had to defer her movement.