9 killed, 13 injured as speeding trailer hits tourist bus

A speeding trailer hits a stranded bus after knocking down six tourists on NH 6 near Sankoti in West Midnapore.

At least nine people were killed and 13 others injured when a speeding trailer hit a stranded bus after knocking down six tourists on National Highway 6 near Sankoti in Bengal's West Midnapore district on Saturday morning.

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The mishap occurred when the trailer first mowed down six tourists who had alighted from the tourist bus which developed mechanical trouble, Superintendent of Police R Rajshekhran said.

"It then rammed against the bus stranded on the roadside injuring 16 persons. Out of the injured tourists, three succumbed to their injuries at Midnapore Medical College," he said.

The bus, carrying members of a tourist party, was returning to Haroa in North 24 Parganas district from Puri a seaside resort in the neighbouring Orissa state.

The tourist party had gone to the seaside resort in two buses. Rest of the tourists were being brought back in the other bus, the SP said.