Five people were killed and five others critically injured in two separate road accidents in West Burdwan district Durgapur on Sunday, police said.

The two accidents took place on National Highway 19 in Durgapur.

DCP, East, of Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate, Raspreet Singh said, “Five people have died so far in two accidents in Durgapur this morning. Several have been admitted to the hospital. They are undergoing treatment.”

In the first incident, a bike hit the back of a truck at high speed, while in the second incident, a four-wheeler rammed into a bus from the rear.

According to the police, in the first case, a bike, being ridden by two young men and a woman, was heading towards Piala from the direction of Bhiringi intersection in Durgapur, when the speeding two-wheeler lost control and hit the back of a truck in front of it.

The impact of the incident was so great that all three riders on the bike were thrown in different directions. They were rescued with serious injuries and taken to Durgapur Sub-district Hospital. However, they died at the hospital.

Locals alleged that the bike was coming so fast that its front wheel fused with the back of the truck. Later, the police removed the bike and the truck by pulling them apart with a crane. The speed of the bike at the time of the accident and whether the three riders were drunk are being investigated. The bodies of the three have been sent for autopsy.

In the other incident, a four-wheeler hit the back of a bus while entering the Andal crossing service road on National Highway 19 from Durgapur to Asansol. According to the police, there were seven people in the car, including the driver. Two died on the spot, and the remaining five were rescued and taken to Bidhannagar Hospital in critical condition. It is learnt that the passengers were returning from a cultural event.

The police have started an investigation to find out how the car hit the back of the bus and how the driver lost control of the car.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Punjab on October 20, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravneet Singh Bittu announced on Sunday.

This will be HM Shah’s second visit in 20 days. He last visited Punjab on September 30 to address an anti-drug rally in Jalandhar.

Announcing the visit in a post on X, Bittu stated that at a time when Punjab is grappling with a serious drug problem, there is a need for decisive action, strong leadership, and firm determination to safeguard the youth and the future of the state.

“Punjab welcomes Hon’ble Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah Ji on his visit to Punjab on 20th October. At a time when Punjab is battling the grave menace of drugs, we need decisive action, strong leadership and a firm resolve to secure our youth and our future,” the former Union Minister said.

Taking aim at the Punjab government over the growing drug menace in the state, Bittu said, “The AAP Govt in Punjab has lost his mandate much before his completion of term. I appeal to every Punjabi to support Amit Shah Ji and have faith in our collective mission to make Punjab drug-free, once and for all.”

“Let us unite to save Punjab’s youth and reclaim Punjab’s future!” he added.

HM Shah’s visit comes at a time when political parties are gearing up for the 2027 Assembly elections in Punjab. It is likely that during his visit, he will focus on strengthening the BJP and discussing preparations for the polls.

There is also a possibility that the Home Minister might visit Mansa to meet the family members of anti-drug activist Parwinder Singh Jhota.

Earlier this week, HM Shah raised concerns over the alleged rise in drug trafficking, gangsterism and organised crime in Punjab, questioning the Bhagwant Mann-led government over the safety of the state’s residents.

In a post on social media platform X in Hindi, he said recent incidents in Dirba and Mansa had raised serious questions about the law and order situation in the state.

HM Shah further said that the Home Ministry will also seek responses from the Punjab government on both these incidents.

During his September 30 rally, the Home Minister promised to make Punjab free of the illicit ‘chitta’ (synthetic drug) trade before December 31, 2029, saying the BJP would contest the next Assembly elections in the state primarily on the issue of a drug-free Punjab.

He urged the mothers and the youth of Punjab to extend support to the BJP in the next Assembly elections by voting for the lotus symbol, promising to free the state from the illicit drug trade.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday expressed grief over the loss of lives in the road accident near Shitla Mata Temple in Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior and extended deepest condolences to the grieving families.

Fourteen people were killed, while 27 were injured after a truck rammed into shops near Shitla Mata Temple early on Sunday. The incident occurred at around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday when the truck lost control while descending a slope near the historic Shitla Mata Temple, located 18 kilometres from the district headquarters.

Taking to X, Gandhi said, “The news of the deaths of several devotees in a horrific accident caused by an out-of-control truck near the Sheetla Mata Temple in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, is extremely heartbreaking.”

“I express my deepest condolences to the grieving families who have lost their loved ones in this accident. I stand with them in this hour of sorrow. I hope for the swift recovery of the injured,” he added.

Meanwhile, families of those killed in the tragic road accident gathered outside the post-mortem house on Sunday and expressed outrage over what they alleged was the administration’s failure to ensure proper traffic management during the heavy rush of devotees amid the Navratri festival.

They assembled outside the post-mortem house in large numbers, raising questions over the district administration’s arrangements and demanding accountability for the tragedy.

The incident has triggered widespread anger among residents. Questions are being raised over the police administration’s handling of traffic regulation and public safety during the festival. People have demanded strict action against those found responsible for the lapses that allegedly led to the accident.

The tragedy occurred during the auspicious festival of Navratri, when hundreds of thousands of devotees visit the historic Shitla Mata Temple. Typically, the route passing by the temple is closed to large vehicles during this period; hence, an investigation is underway to determine who allowed the truck to enter.

Officials have stated that they are probing who authorised the truck’s entry and whose negligence led to this incident.

The victims’ families have questioned how the movement of a truck wasn’t prohibited in the vicinity of the Shitla Mata Temple.