Sand-laden lorry catches fire after crash in Singur, driver dies trapped inside

A tragic road accident in Singur of Hooghly district claimed the life of a lorry driver early Saturday morning after a sand-laden vehicle caught fire following a collision on National Highway 19. The incident occurred in the Gopalnagar area on the Dankuni-bound stretch, triggering panic and major disruption to traffic.

According to initial information, the sequence began with a head-on collision between two dumpers, which left at least one person seriously injured and caused traffic congestion on the busy highway. As vehicles slowed down due to the obstruction, a speeding sand-laden lorry rammed into a moving vehicle from behind, leading to a severe impact.

The force of the collision badly damaged the front portion of the lorry, which soon caught fire and was engulfed in flames. The driver, identified as Ranjit Tanti (33), a resident of Deoghar in Jharkhand, became trapped inside the cabin and was unable to escape. He was charred to death on the spot.

Police and fire services were alerted immediately, and a fire engine was deployed to control the blaze. Eyewitnesses reported that multiple vehicles were involved in the chain collision, and the fire spread rapidly after the crash. Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the fire and the sequence of events leading to the accident.

The incident comes amid rising concerns over road safety in the area, as it marks the second fatal accident in Singur within two days. Earlier, four members of a family had died after their car collided with a stationary dumper on the same highway, highlighting the risks associated with high-speed traffic and congestion on the stretch.