Gangtok: As many as 22 students belonging to St. Xavier’s College in Jharkhand’s Ranchi sustained severe injuries in a tragic road accident in Gangtok on Tuesday morning.
The road mishap took place when the students, who came to Sikkim for an excursion tour, were returning to Ranchi from Sikkim. The students were bound in three buses, one such bus with 22-24 on board met with the accident.
The students were travelling in a West Bengal registered bus when they met with an accident at 7th mile, on the foothills of Gangtok along the National Highway 10.
“Three buses were travelling with students from Ranchi. The middle bus met with the accident. It is suspected to be a break fail. The driver used his presence of mind and tried to save the students by warning them beforehand. He tried his best to control the vehicle. In the other two buses, everyone is safe and sound,” Sikkim Police Special DGP Akshay Sachdeva said.
The students were bound for the 9 pm train from the New Jalpaiguri station on Tuesday. Sikkim police are at the spot trying to clear the highway. The driver took a calculated risk when he noticed the break fail, Sachdeva added.
The injured have been rushed to the nearby Central Referral Hospital (CRH) in Tadong.
“We have admitted 26 patients and most are not in critical condition. Three students are critically injured, but not in danger. They are being given treatment in their injured hands and legs, some have fractures, some are in need of CT scan. The driver was also among the injured, he has a head injury. Those in need of surgery will also be done. The doctors are working meticulously,” CRH Medical Superintendent DR. Yogesh Verma said.
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