App biker killed, IT woman injured in VIP Rd accident, bus ransacked
Times of India | 7 January 2025
123456 Kolkata: A 33-year-old app bike rider was killed and a 28-year-old Sec V employee riding pillion was seriously injured when a private bus hit the motorcycle on VIP Road at the Narayanpur crossing on Monday. The accident sparked a violent protest by residents who ransacked the vehicle, claiming the DN-16 bus from Barasat to Dhamakhali was competing with an L-238 Barasat-Howrah bus. Traffic stopped on VIP Road for around 15 minutes.
The victim, Panihati resident Saurav Majumdar, who used to work at a small mall, started riding app bikes around two years ago. Majumdar had lost his mother and was the sole earning member of his family, a family member told TOI.
IT firm employee, Rubi Shaw, has been admitted to CCU at Charnock Hospital with severe injuries in her legs. Both Majumdar and Shaw had their helmets on. Shaw's cousin Sarmistha Maity said Shaw's home was in Barasat but she lived in Belgharia on rent. Shaw usually travelled by train and bus to office but she got late on Monday and so booked the bike. "My sister said she had asked the rider to slow down on VIP Road, but he did not listen," said Maity.
The accident took place around 2.40pm, when the bike had reached the Narayanpur crossing. CCTV footage showed the bike taking the leftmost lane that had the green signal and the L-238 bus crossing it. Seconds later, the DN-16 bus was seen pulling up beside the bike. As the biker tried to speed ahead, it brushed against the door of the DN-16 bus, said police, adding the bike was in the bus driver's blind spot . In the impact, the bike skidded and both the riders fell to the road. The bus driver slammed on the brakes but the vehicle ran over Majumdar's head and Saw's legs, said police. Police said it could not be ruled that the accident took place as the driver suddenly swerved too much to the left. Police said it could not be ruled the accident took place as the driver swerved too much to the left.
The two were taken to Apex Hospital before Shaw was shifted to Charnock. Both the vehicles were at a moderately high speed, police said.