Tram jumps track, rams building
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KOLKATA, Feb. 15: A Rajabazar-bound tram jumped off the track and rammed into a building on BB Ganguly Street this morning leaving four persons injured. The incident occurred near the Lalbazar police headquarters around 6.20 a.m. today.
Police said the tram, running at a high speed on BB Ganguly Street with sparse early morning traffic, jumped the tracks near the city police headquarters and rammed into a two-storeyed building on 19C/1, BB Ganguly Street.
The tram's driver and three others who were sleeping on the pavement in front of the building were injured when a portion of the building's portico collapsed on them. Hearing a loud thud, local residents came to the spot and rescued the injured persons.
The four injured, including the tram's driver, Mr Hariballav Singh, were rushed to Calcutta Medical College and Hospital. Three of them were administered first aid and discharged later. The condition of one of the pavement dwellers ~ Bankim Bera ~ is critical, police said.
Though the cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained, Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) engineers said the presence of sand on the tram track may have caused the wheels to skid off the track. Since the tram's speed was high, the driver failed to control the vehicle and it rammed into the building, they said.
Rush hour traffic was disrupted in the area as movement of vehicles along the stretch between Lalbazar headquarters and BB Ganguly Street-CR Avenue crossing was suspended until late afternoon. The damaged tram was removed from the spot around 4 p.m. today.
Police said the tram, running at a high speed on BB Ganguly Street with sparse early morning traffic, jumped the tracks near the city police headquarters and rammed into a two-storeyed building on 19C/1, BB Ganguly Street.
The tram's driver and three others who were sleeping on the pavement in front of the building were injured when a portion of the building's portico collapsed on them. Hearing a loud thud, local residents came to the spot and rescued the injured persons.
The four injured, including the tram's driver, Mr Hariballav Singh, were rushed to Calcutta Medical College and Hospital. Three of them were administered first aid and discharged later. The condition of one of the pavement dwellers ~ Bankim Bera ~ is critical, police said.
Though the cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained, Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) engineers said the presence of sand on the tram track may have caused the wheels to skid off the track. Since the tram's speed was high, the driver failed to control the vehicle and it rammed into the building, they said.
Rush hour traffic was disrupted in the area as movement of vehicles along the stretch between Lalbazar headquarters and BB Ganguly Street-CR Avenue crossing was suspended until late afternoon. The damaged tram was removed from the spot around 4 p.m. today.
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