At least 40 passengers were injured after a bus travelling from Berachampa to Karunamoyee plunged into a canal in Kolkata’s Rajarhat area on Friday morning. The accident took place near the Rajarhat–Haroa canal around 7:30am, police said.
According to initial reports, the passenger bus, which was carrying nearly 50 people, broke through a roadside railing before crashing into the canal. Panic spread among commuters as the vehicle submerged partially in water, prompting cries for help.
Local residents rushed to the scene immediately and launched a rescue operation before police and emergency services arrived. The injured were taken to Deganga Hospital and a nearby private facility for treatment.
Police officers reached the spot soon after the mishap and began questioning the driver and his helper to ascertain the cause of the crash. Preliminary enquiries suggest the driver may have lost control of the vehicle while trying to overtake another bus.
“I was on my way to the office in Salt Lake. The bus was overcrowded, and while overtaking another one, it suddenly veered off the road and fell into the canal,” said an injured passenger.
Eyewitnesses also claimed that the bus was travelling at high speed moments before it broke through the railing. The police have launched a detailed investigation to determine whether the mishap was caused by reckless driving, drowsiness, or mechanical failure.
