Taxi falls into Teesta, two die

Taxi falls into Teesta, two die

Statesman News Service
SILIGURI, May 15: Two persons were killed, six injured and three went missing when a Sikkim-bound passenger taxi from Siliguri fell into the Teesta river at Lekhuvir in Kalimpong sub-division around 12.30 p.m. today.
According to the additional superintendent of police, Kalimpong, Mr Humayun Kabir, Anil Subba (34) the dirver and P Bhargovi Amma (61), a resident of Rumtek, Sikkim died in the accident.
Mr Mehul Desai (32), a resident of Jadavpur in Kolkata and an employee of ICICI Bank, Salt Lake Sector–II branch, was among the three persons who went missing after the mishap.
Mr Desai was on a holiday trip to Sikkim along with his wife, Mrs Mridula Desai. Mrs Desai is undergoing treatment at a private nursing home here.
The second missing person has been identified as Mr Ramesh Acharya (30), a resident of Rumtek in Sikkim.
The police, however, have so far not been able to disclose the identity of the third missing person.
The Kalimpong police have launched a drive with a team of rafters to rescue the missing persons.
Mr Kabir said the accident occurred when a bolder from the surrounding hill fell on the Gangtok-bound vehicle and hit the driver.
“The driver lost control of the vehicle and it fell into the Teesta, some 50 feet below the NH-31,” the ASP, said.
Of the six injured persons, while three are being treated at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, the rest have been admitted to a private nursing home here.
The injured persons have been identified as Mrs Mridula Desai, Mr Bhavesh Narsana, Mrs Khati Narsana, Ms Mamta Monger, Mr Jivan Saha and Mr Suman Saha. The condition of five of the injured persons is stated to be critical.
According to sources, among the injured persons, Mr Bhavesh and Mrs Narsana, a newly wed couple, are from Mumbai. They were on way to Sikkim on a honeymoon trip.
Mr Jivan Saha and Ms Mamta Monger are the residents of Siliguri and Rumtek, respectivel, police said.