Tragic Bus Accident Near Rangpo Claims Seven Lives, Leaves 16 Injured; Authorities Provide Immediate Aid and Support

KalimNews, Kalimpong/ Rnagpo (Sikkim), Dec 1, 2024 : Seven people lost their lives in a devastating accident on National Highway 10 near Rangpo, between Atal Bridge and Bhotey Bhir, on Saturday. The ill-fated bus, Quality, traveling from Siliguri to Gangtok, veered off NH10 and plunged approximately 200 feet into a gorge near the Teesta River. The accident also left 16 individuals injured, including the bus staff. Authorities are actively assisting the victims and their families.

Local authorities confirmed that seven people died in the accident. Two victims succumbed at the scene, four others were declared dead upon arrival at the hospital, and one individual passed away at STNM Hospital in Gangtok at approximately 4:30 AM on December 1, 2024. The accident site, located near Andheri, falls under the jurisdiction of Kalimpong Police under Lava Police Station. The bus owner, based in Gangtok, is cooperating with the authorities. The Sikkim government has provided medical assistance and support to the victims.

The identities of the deceased are as follows:

1. Iqbal Hossain (42), son of SK Moin Hassan, Belgachia, Kolkata (West Bengal)
2. Indrajit Singh (43), son of Sanjeet Singh, Sevoke Road, Siliguri (West Bengal)
3. Gopal Prasad (40), son of Dewnath Prasad, Deorali, Gangtok (Sikkim)
4. Sujit Das, age unknown, son of Lt. Manik Das, Jalpaiguri (West Bengal)
5. Ajay Tamang (47), son of Panchay Tamang, Samsing Tea Garden, Jalpaiguri (West Bengal)
6. Juni Kumari (24), daughter of Bijay Prasad, Rangpo, Sikkim
7. Jamiruddin Ansari, age unknown, son of Maniruddin, Kishanganj, Bihar (died at STNM Hospital, Gangtok, December 1, 2024)
   

Sixteen individuals sustained injuries, ranging from minor to critical. Among them, two were discharged after first aid, while one critically injured passenger was referred to CRH Manipal for specialized treatment. The remaining 14 are receiving care at STNM Hospital in Gangtok and Singtam Government Hospital.

The injured are identified as:

1. Bimal Thapa (49), Darjeeling (Bus Driver)
2. Deepak Chettri (30), Dolakha, Nepal (Bus Conductor)
3. Shankar Dakwa (34), son of Manikanta Dakwa, Jalpaiguri (West Bengal)
4. Sunita Devi (40), wife of Deonath Saha, Darjeeling (West Bengal)
5. Taufeek Alam (24), son of Naujar Alam, Purnia, Bihar
6. Md. Rahul (25), son of Md. Sabul, Purnia, Bihar
7. Sahanwaz (24), son of Md. Esher, Kishanganj, Bihar
8. Sakir Hussian (53), son of Mohammad, Mallapuram, Kerala
9. Basonti Barma (40), Siliguri (West Bengal)
10. Sunil Choudhary (25), Dhupguri, Jalpaiguri (West Bengal)
11. Sakir Alam (55), Gangtok (Sikkim)
12. Amit Tamang (27), Gorubathan, (West Bengal)
13. Nausad Alam (36), Uttar Dinajpur (West Bengal)
14. Patamoli Barman (30), Siliguri (West Bengal)
15. Tajimuddin Ansari (45), location unknown
16. Sarkar Hussain (58), Kerala

S. Balasubramanian, District Magistrate of Kalimpong, confirmed that under the directives of Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang and Chief Secretary Vijay Bhushan Pathak, the Kalimpong District Administration is providing full support to the victims and their families. Transportation arrangements for the deceased are underway, with Iqbal Hossain’s body already being sent to Belgachia, Kolkata, via a government-arranged ambulance.

Balasubramanian said, "The bodies of the other victims will be handed over to their families after post-mortem examinations at STNM Hospital, Gangtok. Ex-gratia payments of ₹2 lakh will be provided to the families of the deceased from West Bengal, and the respective state authorities of other victims have been notified for similar assistance."

The accident prompted immediate action from local authorities. In response to the tragedy, S. Balasubramanian, District Magistrate of Kalimpong, visited the accident site accompanied by police and RTO officials. He announced that a joint inspection will be conducted tomorrow by the PWD, Police, and RTO to evaluate vulnerable stretches of NH10 and implement additional safety measures to prevent future accidents.

The bus has been removed from the gorge, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident.

This tragic incident underscores the pressing need for improved road safety measures on NH10, a route notorious for its challenging terrain and traffic conditions. Authorities have pledged to address these concerns to prevent similar tragedies in the future.