Two young men were killed and two others were critically injured after motorcycles lost control on the Kalyani Expressway near Ruiya in Rahara on Monday morning, according to police. The crash took place near the 56 bus stand as the riders were travelling from Sodepur towards Barrackpore during the festive period.
Police said four young men were travelling on two motorcycles when the vehicles lost control near a bend in the expressway. The victims were identified as Bikram and Tushar, who died at the spot. The two injured riders were taken to hospital by traffic personnel and officers from Khardah police station. Their condition was reported to be critical.
Local residents told the Bengali news outlet Sangbad Pratidin that several young riders had been travelling at high speed in the area. The report also said that multiple motorcycles were involved in the incident, with around 10 young people present in the vicinity. Police and local residents reached the area after the crash was reported.
The accident has renewed concern over road safety on the Kalyani Expressway, where police have been conducting surveillance, imposing fines and carrying out regular vehicle checks. Authorities have increased monitoring during the Puja season to prevent dangerous driving and other traffic violations.
The latest crash followed another fatal collision on the expressway last Friday. In that incident, a car travelling at high speed struck the rear of a stationary lorry near the Ambagan area of Barrackpore. Three people, including a married couple, died in the crash, while a motorcycle rider also lost his life, according to the report.
The two incidents within a short period have drawn attention to the safety risks on a corridor used by commuters travelling between areas north of Kolkata, including Sodepur, Rahara and Barrackpore. The latest report does not provide details of the motorcycles’ speed, road surface, visibility or whether the riders were wearing helmets. It also does not state whether any case has been registered or whether further enforcement action has been announced.
Police have continued vehicle inspections and increased surveillance on the expressway during the festive season. The authorities’ next steps in the latest case are expected to include investigation of the crash, treatment of the injured riders and documentation of the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
