SIX PILGRIMS from West Bengal were killed and two others injured as their car collided with a stationary truck on Friday late evening while they were travelling to Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh to attend the Maha Kumbh Mela, police said on Saturday.
The accident took place on the National Highway from Kolkata to Delhi under Rajganj police station limits, around 20 km from Dhanbad district headquarters in Jharkhand, police said. Those killed were two men, two women and two minors, all residents of Kamarpukur village in Hooghly district, police said, adding that efforts are on to ascertain their identities.
The injured were taken to Shaheed Nirmal Mahato Medical College Hospital for treatment. Four of the victims died on the spot, said Rajganj Police Station officer-in-charge Alisha Kumari.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed grief over the incident.
In a post on X, CM Banerjee wrote, “My condolences to the families of the six from our State, who died today in a road accident in Jharkhand on way to Mahakumbh. I have instructed our administration to help the distressed families in bringing back the bodies and in providing medical and other support to the survivors.”
