Tragedy on Highway 18: Collision Claims Nine Lives

Nine people were tragically killed early Friday morning in a devastating head-on collision between a car and a truck on National Highway 18 in West Bengal's Purulia district, authorities reported.

The deadly accident occurred around 6:30 a.m. near Namshol village, under the jurisdiction of the Balarampur police. According to Soumyadeep Mallick, officer in charge at Balarampur Police Station, the crash involved a Bolero SUV and a truck, killing all nine occupants of the vehicle.

Police sources indicated that the victims were returning from a wedding ceremony, traveling from Adabana village in Purulia to Tilaitand in Jharkhand when the collision happened. The impact was so intense that the SUV was left mangled. Local residents and emergency responders rushed to the scene to assist, but doctors at a nearby primary health center declared all victims dead upon arrival. Preliminary evidence suggests overspeeding and potential negligence contributed to the accident, with investigations ongoing.

(With inputs from agencies.)