Six people of the same family died in a tragic road accident at Balikuchi of Assam’s Nalbari district on Saturday evening.
An Alto car coming from Balitara carrying the ill-fated passengers fell into a deep pond while crossing a bridge at Balikuchi resulting in the death all the six passengers in the car.
The dead have been identified as Shamu Talukdar (71), his wife Baroda Talukdar (55), daughters Rumi Talukdar Kalita (38), Pompi Talukdar (32), Pragati Talukdar (22) and granddaughter Hangshita Kalita (eight years). The ill-fated family hailed from the Sonkani village of the district.
The accident came to the notice much later when a local cycling through the bridge calls for help from the hyacinth covered pond. He called for help from the nearby Balikuchi crossroad and locals from the region swung into action. They broke the window panes and windshields of the vehicle and pulled out the passengers. However, all of the inmates of the vehicle had already died by then.
Shomu Talukdar who was behind the wheels was a prominent social worker of Nalbari.
Rumi Talukdar Kalita and the minor girl Hangshita Kalita were the wife and daughter respectively of Pramod Kalita who is the secretary of Assam Publication Board.
Curious onlookers thronged the accident site immediately after the news spread like wildfire. Mourners also gathered at the Swahid Mukunda Kakoti Civil Hospital in Nalbari where the bodies were taken.
According to locals, the accident took place because of dense fog during the evening hours which is common in this part of the year. The locals also rued over the fact that there are no protective railings on either end of the bridge because of which the accident took place.
Meanwhile, a pall of gloom has descended in the entire after the shocking and tragic accident.