Passenger bus collides with trailer, killing at least 5 people in Jalpaiguri; Over 20 others injured

A devastating road accident claimed at least five lives and left 21 others injured in the early hours of Sunday near Maynaguri in the Jalpaiguri district. The horrific crash occurred around 7:00 AM on the national highway near the Ulla Dabri flyover when a passenger-laden government bus rammed into a stationary trailer from behind. The impact was so severe that the entire front section of the bus was completely mangled and twisted, trapping several passengers inside.

The Cooch Behar-bound bus had initially started its journey from Siliguri earlier that morning. According to eyewitnesses, the massive trailer was parked on the shoulder of the highway near the flyover when the speeding bus failed to control its momentum on the slick surface and crashed into it. While the region had experienced heavy monsoon downpours throughout the night, the road remained dangerously wet and slippery at the time of the collision, which investigators believe acted as a primary factor behind the driver losing operational control.

Local residents were the first to respond to the crisis, immediately launching a grassroots rescue operation before emergency services arrived at the scene. Police personnel eventually took over the site, extricating the victims and shifting the wounded to the Jalpaiguri Medical College Super Specialty Hospital. Medical officials confirmed that while 29 people were initially brought in for evaluation, 21 remain admitted with serious injuries, including one child and two women who are currently fighting for their lives in critical condition.