Mukesh Sharma

Kalimpong, January 19:

Death of 6 passengers, 7 injured and 10 missing has been reported until now after a Tata Spacio vehicle bearing number SK04/J0427 plunged into the River Teesta at 9:45 p.m. on Friday at Badarey Bhir, near Chyan Dara. The passengers in the fatefully overloaded vehicle were returning towards Melli, South Sikkim, after attending the last day of the Triveni Mela. The vehicle skidded off the road and fell 100 feet below. The number of deceased persons is expected to increase. The incident area falls under Rongli- Ronglihatt Thana jurisdiction.

As per the information received from the Police source, the deceased have been identified as Rushali Pradhan (3), Prawas Prasad (22), Lakpa Tshering Bhutia (13), Malati Chettri (32), Manju Chettri and Deepika Chettri.

The dead bodies of Manju and Deepika were recovered by the members of Rangeet- Teesta Rafting Owners Association, near Gail Khola, approximately around 7 kms away from the accident spot.

A 16 year old girl named Lucky was saved luckily on Friday night itself by Kewal Tamang, one of the members of the Rafting Association. Kewal set off to the river on a Kayak boat and saved her.

The 10 missing individuals include, driver Amar Pradhan (40), Rekha Chettri, Nalumbi Chettri, Sanjok Chettri, Upasna Chettri, Subarna Chettri, Sabita Pradhan, Sancha Maya Lama, Manika Adhikari and Doma Bhutia.

Out of the 7 injured, Md. Haroon, Md. Jia Ul and Chandan Thakur have been admitted at Kalimpong Sub Divisional Hospital. Anupam Pradhan (25) and Lucy Chettri (15) have been referred to a hospital at Siliguri. The rest 2, Lucky and Sanjay Prasad are being delivered primary medical treatment at Teesta Hospital.

As per Sanjay, one of the injured, the overloaded vehicle lost control when it was giving pass to another vehicle and even the road was narrow.

“As soon as I realized that we met with an accident, I jumped out of the vehicle”, he told.

The Rafting Association members are on their tips and toes searching for the missing passengers. The closing of NHPC dam is hampering the search operation as the water level is high and stagnant.