Tourist, local killed in road accident near Darjeeling

DARJEELING,: A tourist from Alipurduar and a local resident were killed in a road accident near Malidhura, around 8 km from Darjeeling, on Saturday morning.

The deceased were identified as 20-year-old Herok Das of Alipurduar and 49-year-old Anil Rai, a resident of Malidhura.

According to eyewitnesses and locals, Das was riding pillion on a motorcycle when the two-wheeler collided with Rai, who was travelling uphill towards his workplace at the Darjeeling Himalayan Ropeway in Singamari around 8:30 am.

Das died on the spot, while Rai succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.

The motorcycle was being ridden by 23-year-old Akash Das, also from Alipurduar. He sustained injuries in the accident and was referred to a hospital in Siliguri for further treatment.

Postmortems on the bodies of the two deceased were conducted in Darjeeling on Saturday. Relatives of both victims reached the town to claim the bodies.

While the relatives of Herok Das declined to comment on the incident, Rai's family lodged a police complaint and sought compensation from the other party.

Rai's daughter, Avantika Rai, said her father was on his way to work when the motorcycle coming from above struck him.

"Like every day, he was going to work. He was working uphill when the bike came from above and struck him. We got information from another vehicle about the accident and went to see my father," she said.

She said Rai had suffered serious injuries, including a protruding bone in his leg and injuries to his face, and had also complained of pain in his back.

"He became more serious in the operation theatre and was shifted to the ICU where he died," she said.

A local resident, Binu Tamang, said Rai was the sole earning member of his family and is survived by his wife and a daughter who is studying.

"People come from outside with vehicles and this type of incident occurs. He was the only earning member of the family. He is survived by his wife and daughter, who is studying. We want some compensation to be given by their parents," Tamang said.

"We understand and are sorry that someone from their side has also died, but we need them to compromise with us as the accident was caused by them," she added.

Tamang said the family would not allow Herok Das's body to be taken unless his parents came forward and accepted their demands.

Another local resident, Kavindra Yonzon, echoed the demand for compensation and expressed concern over people from outside the hills driving on roads without being adequately accustomed to the terrain.