Truck kills 5 picnickers in Murshidabad

BEHRAMPORE: Five picnickers from two families were killed and 12 others injured when a truck ploughed into their stationary vehicle in Rejionagar on NH-34 in Murshidabad on Tuesday morning, reports Sukumar Mahato. The group from Ranaghat had hired a mini-truck for a picnic in Lalbagh. They had stopped at a tea stall at Bhangasanko on the highway when the speeding truck rammed their vehicle.
The deceased have been identified as Soma Das Malakar (38), her son Surya (14), sister-in-law Ila (44), and Shilpi (26) and Moon Mondal (35). While four of them died on the spot, Moon succumbed to her injuries at Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital. Five among the 12 injured are also critical. Those who witnessed the accident blamed the speeding truck and morning fog. “The truck ran into the vehicle in top gear and then sped away,” said one.