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Nine killed as bus falls on to railway track in Howrah

— Photo: Sushanta Patronobish

Ghastly Accident: The mangled heap of a bus that fell nearly 40 feet from a flyover on the rail lines in Howrah on Saturday.

Kolkata: At least nine persons were killed and 11 injured, some critically, when a bus crashed through the concrete railings of a flyover and fell 40 feet on the Howrah railway track on Saturday.

The death toll could climb as many have suffered serious injuries. The incident disrupted rail services for sometime at one of the country’s busiest stations.

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, who reached the railway hospital where most of the people were admitted, said the incident was very unfortunate. “I would not like to disturb the patients. Nine people have been killed — I have no words to express my grief,” she said. She condemned the ‘commission system’ of payment of private bus drivers and their helpers, and said it had caused many accidents.

Around 3.50 p.m. the minibus which was reportedly speeding lost control and crashed through the concrete railings of the Bankim Setu flyover, falling first on to the Howarh Station yard between Platforms 11 and 12 before landing on the track. Police officials said they were trying to ascertain whether those killed were travellers in the bus or were standing on the platform. Howrah Police Superintendent Neraj Kumar said an inquiry was on.

“We will have to see whether there was any mechanical fault in the bus.” Locals, including those waiting for their trains, rushed to rescue the passengers. Senior railway officials and the railway police rushed to the spot.

Police and railway sources said that 11 persons were admitted to the Howrah General Hospital and the Howrah Railway Orthopaedic Hospital. Handcarts used by porters were used to ferry those critically injured. Police said the driver of the vehicle was among the last to be rescued.

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