Woman Pays With Life As Two Buses Compete Against One Another

Kolkata: On Wednesday, the death of a 38-year-old woman n eastern suburban Kolkata while trying to board a bus even as it was racing against another has led to the question on whether the bus drivers of Kolkata can ever be disciplined. According to police, the victim has been identified as one Dipika Poddar, a resident of Baguiati. The incident took place around 9:30 AM.

According to police, the victim was trying to board a bus from the 15 number bus stand at Ultadanga. She noticed a bus on route 217 (Narayanpur-Babughat) was taking some time to board it as there were others jostling to get in.

“While she got her chance, a bus on route 201 (Nimta-Nicco Park) came behind it. Both of them were headed towards Maniktala and they tried picking up the maximum number of passengers. The driver on route 217 suddenly accelerated and tried to move forward throwing Dipika off balance and on to the road. Even before passengers on the bus and the bus stop could raise their voice and raise an alarm, she had been run over,” said an investigating officer. The cops rushed her to the R G Kar hospital where she was declared brought dead. The driver of the route 217 bus was arrested after locals nabbed him and refused to let him go. The conductor too has been detained for questioning.

Buses have been involved in 17 accidents this year. This is about 29 percent of all accidents witnessed in this city. Last year in 2015, they were involved in over 35 accidents. Compare this to 2014 in which Kolkata police had managed to restrict buses being involved in 31 accidents as compared to 50 accidents in 2013.