Four killed, eight injured as pick-up van hits bike on Kolkata-Basanti Highway

As per police, Ghosh, Sheikh and Das were declared dead on arrival at Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital (CNMCH), while Bappa succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

According to police, the pick-up van, which was moving at a high speed, was carrying nine passengers. The driver and a passenger died, while the rest eight were injured. Six of them were admitted to the CNMCH, while two were released after first aid. Five of the injured are residents of Hasnabad in South 24 Parganas.

Police said the pick-up van was on its way to Basanti in South 24 Parganas from Kolkata.

“Prima facie, the driver of the pick-up van lost control and collided with the two-wheeler coming from the opposite side of the road. The van then rammed into a roadside tree,” said an officer.

Das was driving the two-wheeler with Ghosh riding pillion. Both were residents of Cossipore.

As per police, Basanti Highway is quite prone to accidents and two crossings on it have been marked as “black spots”.

The road that connects Science City in Kolkata to Basanti in the Sunderbans witnesses maximum accidents on the highway.

As per sources, at least nine people were killed in 18 accidents in the past three years at Ghatakpukur and Chandipur crossings on the highway.