5 dead as bus hits trailer

The mangled remains of the bus. (Bishwarup Dutta)

Subhajoy Roy, TT, Jan. 7: Five people were killed and more than 20 injured after vacationing in Puri when the bus they were in rammed into a trailer in Uluberia early today.

Around 3.45am, people living in Kashyappur along NH 6 woke up to cries of help from passengers trapped inside the bus, police said.

They broke the windowpanes and the rear windshield to rescue the passengers. "People were screaming in pain. We used ladders to get them out of the bus," Parul Doloi, who lives barely 20m from the accident spot, said. "The bus driver was bleeding from the head and crying for help."

The police, however, said the driver remained untraced. "We are looking for him. There has been no arrests," an officer said. "Most of the 60-odd passengers are from Howrah's Munsirhat, a 30-minute drive from the spot."

Biswajit Patra, who has a fractured leg, said they had left for Odisha on Monday.

Pradip Jana, 46, Rabi Mondal, 55, Debosmita Ghuku, 11, and the bus attendant, Laxmi, in his 40s, were declared dead at Uluberia Sub-divisional Hospital. "Eleven people are admitted with fractures," Sudip Ranjan Kanrar, the hospital superintendent, said. Asima Patra, 70, was referred to SSKM Hospital where she died later in the day.

OFB fire

A fire broke out at the Ordnance Factory Board's office off Strand Road this afternoon. Eight fire engines were used to douse the flames in about an hour.