Escort car in President Pranab’s convoy falls into Darjeeling gorge, 3 injured

HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times, Darjeeling, 15 July 2016: An escort car President Pranab Mukherjee’s convoy plunged into a gorge near Darjeeling on Friday morning. 
The President, however, was unhurt. 

The accident happened around 11.30 am in Sonada, about 16 kilometres from Darjeeling. The President was going to Bagdogra from where he was supposed to return to Delhi after a three-day trip. 

The convoy of chief minister Mamata Banerjee was following that of the President. “After Pranabda’s car moved on, the third car slipped and rolled down the incline. There were five men in the vehicle, all have been rescued. We immediately informed Pranabda and stopped all the vehicles to start rescue efforts,” said the chief minister. 

“The roads become slippery in the monsoons. Men from state police, the security forces in other cars and others joined the rescue efforts.” 

Three security personnel were in the vehicle and all were rescued with severe injuries. 

According to local residents, the chief minister got down from her car and tried to coordinate rescue operations. The injured man has been rushed to Darjeeling hospital.