Outgoing minister Birbaha Hansda narrowly escapes unhurt after convoy vehicle rams into stationary container

Outgoing West Bengal minister and Binpur candidate Birbaha Hansda narrowly escaped unhurt after a vehicle in her security convoy met with a severe accident on National Highway 16. The incident occurred around midnight on Friday at the Birshibpur flyover within the jurisdiction of the Uluberia police station. While the minister’s personal vehicle remained safe as it was positioned behind the lead car, the pilot vehicle sustained extensive damage. Reports indicate that the front portion of the police car was completely mangled due to the high-speed impact with a stationary container parked on the flyover.

The accident took place while the minister was traveling from the Jhargram and Medinipur regions toward Kolkata to participate in multiple election campaign events ahead of the next phase of the assembly polls. In the darkness of the night, the driver of the police pilot car reportedly failed to notice the stationary container on the flyover, leading to the rear-end collision. The sound of the crash alerted local residents and on-duty officers, who immediately rushed to the scene to initiate a rescue operation to extract those trapped inside the wreckage.

Two police personnel, identified as an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) and a constable, sustained serious injuries in the crash. They were immediately transported to the Uluberia Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay Government Medical College and Hospital for emergency treatment. Following the news of the accident, senior political figures, including minister Pulak Roy and Uluberia East candidate Ritabrata Banerjee, visited the medical facility to check on the condition of the injured officers.

Birbaha Hansda, the daughter of prominent Jharkhand movement leaders Narayan and Chunibala Hansda, is currently contesting to retain her seat in Binpur. Despite the shock of the incident and the significant damage to her security detail's vehicle, she remained unharmed and was able to continue her journey to Kolkata later that night using alternate arrangements. Supporters and party members expressed relief at her safety, though the incident has sparked concerns regarding convoy security and the presence of stationary obstacles on high-speed national highways during the busy election period.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision, specifically focusing on why the container was parked on the flyover and the speed at which the convoy was traveling. This accident comes amidst a hectic campaigning schedule where leaders are traversing various districts day and night.