One killed, 8 injured when 'drunk' filmmaker crashes SUV into Kolkata market
Police have arrested Siddhant Das (35), who is a television director, and a woman co-passenger has also been taken into custody
A bustling Sunday (April 6) morning in Kolkata’s Thakurpukur market plunged into chaos, when a vegetable seller was mowed down and killed and eight others were injured after a SUV, driven by an allegedly inebriated filmmaker, crashed at a market in Kolkata's Thakurpukur.
The accident reportedly occurred around 9 am on Sunday on a road officially closed for repairs.
Police have arrested Siddhant Das (35), who is a television director, and his woman co-passenger has also been taken into custody. Another woman, who was seated in the rear seat, fled the spot after the accident.
According to local media reports, Das was allegedly returning from a party with two women in his car. Suddenly, Das lost control of the car and drove into a road closed for renovation. The vehicle crashed through the rails and hit three two-wheelers and pedestrians.
Police confirmed that Das was drunk and four bottles of liquor were found in the vehicle.
Shocking crash
Aminur Rahman, 63, a vegetable vendor, sustained critical injuries and later died at the CMRI Hospital.
Eight others were also injured—seven were discharged after treatment, while a 68-year-old man, Joydeb Majumdar, remains in a critical condition.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and fury. Das’ SUV first smashed into parked two-wheelers before hitting several pedestrians.
According to the police, the road, which is under repairs, is closed to traffic. Only vehicles belonging to residents of the area are allowed to go through. However, the film director's car crashed through the guard rails because of his reckless driving and he ended up hitting several people, a police officer told the media.
Das has been arrested and a case has been registered under relevant IPC sections.
The vehicle, now impounded, has been seized for further investigation.
Also Read: Vadodara accident: Law student denies police claims, says he wasn’t drunk or speeding
Locals fume
Residents voiced anger over the lack of police deployment on a crowded holiday morning.
According to local residents, no personnel were present to restrict unauthorised access into the road closed for repairs.
The incident has once again drawn attention to drunk driving, a major contributor to road accidents and fatalities.
Despite campaigns and strict laws, tragedies continue to occur with alarming frequency.
