One killed, 12 injured as pickup van collides with truck in Darjeeling

A fatal road accident occurred in Naxalbari’s Satbhaiya area on Monday morning when a pickup van carrying 13 Kumbh Mela pilgrims from Assam’s Kamrup and Marang districts collided with a container truck. One person was killed, and 12 others sustained injuries. The victims were traveling to Allahabad when the crash took place. The truck driver fled the scene immediately after the incident.

Locals rushed to help and transported the injured to Naxalbari Block Hospital, where one person was declared dead. Several critically injured passengers were referred to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital for advanced treatment, while others with minor injuries received first aid. Authorities have seized both vehicles and initiated an investigation. Police are working to determine the cause of the accident and locate the absconding truck driver.

Traffic movement in the area was briefly affected but later restored. No official statement has been released regarding the condition of the injured passengers. Law enforcement officers are examining CCTV footage and gathering witness accounts to establish the sequence of events leading to the crash. Further updates on the investigation are awaited.