Kolkata-Digha AC bus crashes near Digha injuring 12 passengers

What promised to be a leisurely ride to Digha turned into a nightmare for an AC bus from Kolkata. Tthe "Maity Motor" AC bus, cruising along the pothole-riddled highway under construction in the Ghesai area near Digha, suddenly veered out of control while giving space to a pick-up van. The driver lost grip on the treacherous stretch, sending the vehicle hurtling into a roadside ditch in a heart-stopping plunge that left 12 travelers injured amid twisted metal and shattered glass. Miraculously, swift action by local club youths turned potential tragedy into a tale of heroism, as they pried open the jammed doors and broken windows to haul everyone to safety.

The bus, equipped with air-conditioned comfort for the popular weekend getaway route Digha became a steel trap when its main door sealed shut upon impact, trapping passengers inside the tilted cabin as the evening shadows lengthened. Eyewitnesses recounted the frantic scene: screams echoing from the wreckage, dust clouds billowing, and the acrid scent of spilled fuel hanging in the air. The injured—ranging from minor cuts and bruises to suspected fractures—were rushed to Digha Hospital for immediate treatment, where doctors stabilized them throughout the night. Preliminary reports point to the ongoing roadworks as the villain, with massive craters and uneven surfaces turning the coastal highway into a deathtrap for unwary drivers ferrying families and tourists to West Bengal's beloved beach haven.

After hours of grueling effort with cranes and manpower, authorities cleared the mangled bus from the ditch, restoring traffic flow on the vital artery linking Kolkata's bustle to Digha's serene waves. The incident has ignited fresh outrage over the state's crumbling infrastructure, with commuters demanding urgent repairs to prevent future mishaps on this heavily trafficked corridor. Digha Mohana Coastal Police have launched an inquiry into the crash, interviewing the driver and van operator, while praising the quick-thinking locals whose brawn and bravery likely saved lives.