Five killed as state bus rams into trailer on NH-27 in Bengal’s Jalpaiguri, Suvendu announces compensation
The Statesman | 22 June 2026
At least five passengers were killed and several others injured when a North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) bus rammed into a stationary truck-trailer on National Highway 27 near Ulladabri under Maynaguri police station in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal on Sunday morning.
The bus, carrying around 40 passengers and travelling from Siliguri to Cooch Behar along the East-West Corridor, rammed into the parked trailer at high speed. The impact left the front face of the bus completely mangled, trapping several passengers inside the wreckage.
Local residents and police personnel rushed to the spot and launched rescue operations. The injured were extricated from the damaged vehicle and shifted to nearby hospitals.
According to an initial police report, 29 injured passengers were admitted to Jalpaiguri Government Medical College and Hospital (JGMC&H). They include 15 men, 12 women and two children aged about one-and-a-half years and nine years.
One passenger was declared brought dead at Maynaguri Rural Hospital, while another was declared dead at JGMC&H. Three more victims later succumbed to their injuries, taking the death toll to five.
A child and two women were reported to be in critical condition, while several others are undergoing treatment for serious injuries, reports suggested.
Doctors at JGMC&H said a number of victims were shifted to the Intensive Care Unit owing to the severity of their injuries. Medical teams are closely monitoring the condition of the critically injured passengers.
Jalpaiguri Superintendent of Police Sujata Kumari Binapani said that five passengers had died till Sunday evening. Police have launched an investigation into the accident and are searching for the bus driver, who allegedly fled the spot after the incident.
Jalpaiguri MP Dr Jayanta Kumar Roy visited the hospital and enquired about the condition of the injured. He also discussed treatment arrangements with doctors and hospital authorities.
The accident disrupted traffic movement on the NH-27 stretch for several hours as rescue operations continued.
As per preliminary findings, the bus hit the stationary trailer from behind, though the exact cause of the accident is yet to be established.
Expressing grief over the tragedy, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. He said the district administration and police had been directed to ensure all necessary rescue and relief measures.
The Chief Minister also asked North Bengal Development Minister Nisith Pramanik and Minister of State for Transport Anandamay Barman to coordinate with district authorities and oversee relief operations. Barman left Kolkata for Maynaguri and is expected to visit the victims and review the situation on Sunday night.
Announcing compensation, the Chief Minister said the next of kin of each deceased passenger would receive Rs 5 lakh. Those grievously injured would be given Rs 1 lakh each, while passengers sustaining minor injuries would receive Rs 50,000. The state government will also bear the entire cost of treatment of the injured at government medical facilities.
“We stand firmly with the affected families in this hour of profound grief and will ensure they receive all possible support,” the Chief Minister said.
Officials fear the toll may rise further as some of the injured passengers continue to remain in critical condition.