Bengal tourist dies in Sikkim

TT, Gangtok, Dec. 9: A tourist from Bengal's Hooghly died today when the car carrying her and 11 others rolled 100ft down the side of a road at Namchi in south Sikkim.

The 23-year-old homemaker, Jayshree Adhikari, was travelling with the group to Pelling in west Sikkim from Samdruptse in Namchi.

The incident happened at Namchi-Damthang road, nearly 65km from here.

Those in the car who were injured were identified as Alok Pal, 47, Pinaki Adhikari, 35, Malay Dey, 47, Aparajita Kundu, 32, Subhrimal Dey, 14, Sabary Dey, 41, Surajit Kundu, 42, Sujata Pal, 43, Barsa Kundu, 30, Agunj Pal, 13, and Kalpana Kundu, 67. Pinaki is the husband of the deceased homemaker.

All are from Hoogly.

Hospital sources said some of them had had suffered head and body injuries and were admitted to a hospital at Namchi.

"Their condition is quite critical and they may have to be referred to Siliguri for further treatment," said a senior doctor in the hospital.

The driver Tashi Topden Kazi from Pakyong in East district has suffered injuries too. The police have registered a case against him at Namchi police station.

The group had reached Gangtok on December 4.

A police officer at Namchi said the incident happened around 2pm and the reason of the accident is not yet known.