Purulia bike accidents killed at least six people across several parts of the West Bengal district within hours during Dashami night, according to a report by Anandabazar. The crashes involved motorcycles colliding with trucks, cars and an auto-rickshaw, as well as motorcycles striking pedestrians.
Two motorcycle riders, identified as Shantiram Mahato, 22, and Rahin Mahato, 18, died after their bike collided with a truck in the Aimundi area under Purulia Muffasil police station. Both men were residents of Palanja village in Jaipur police station area. They were taken to hospital in critical condition, where doctors declared them dead.
In another incident in Patharkata village under Manbazar police station, a motorcycle struck a minor identified as Dip Orang, who died in the crash. At Bhadsা More under Tamna police station, three motorcycle riders were seriously injured after their vehicle was hit by another vehicle. Krishnakamal Mahato, 19, who was from the Kenda police station area, died while undergoing treatment. The other two injured riders remain under treatment, the report said.
A separate motorcycle-pedestrian collision in the Para police station area killed Bhajan Bauri, 19, a resident of Pabra village under Santaldih police station. In Jambad area under Hura police station, a motorcycle collided with an auto-rickshaw. Bhagabat Mahato, from Bandhgarh village under Purulia Muffasil police station, suffered serious injuries and was later declared dead at Purulia Medical College.
The report also linked another death to a crash in Nanduyara under Raghunathpur police station. Sardar Ali, a resident of Kুমarpur under Asansol South police station, was injured after being hit by a motorcycle on Tuesday night and died while receiving treatment on Wednesday.
The concentration of fatal crashes across multiple police station areas has placed attention on motorcycle safety, speed control and the risks faced by pedestrians on district roads. The incidents involved different types of collisions, including crashes with heavy vehicles, other road users and pedestrians. The available report did not establish whether the roads, vehicles or lighting conditions were contributing factors in each case.
A district police officer told Anandabazar that most such crashes were occurring because riders were allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and at excessive speed. The officer also said that each incident was being investigated. The police inquiries are expected to determine the circumstances of the individual crashes and establish responsibility in each case.
