Eight including soldier killed in Bengal road accidents

At least eight people including an army jawan were killed and three others injured in two different accidents in West Bengal's Darjeeling district since Wednesday night, police said.

Four people including a soldier were killed and three injured when their car fell 300 feet into the Teesta Valley under Rungli Rungliot police station.

There were seven people in the car, of whom three have been admitted in a private hospital here, said Additional Superintendent of Police (headquarters) Sudip Sarkar.

One of the injured was serious.

The dead included army jawan Sajendra Rai, who had come home on leave.

The driver, who was also injured, had apparently lost control of the vehicle, said a police source.

Four others died when a lorry overturned near the Buribalason bridge at Fansideoa under Siliguri sub-division Thursday afternoon and fell on the river bank.

"The victims were either sitting on the road, or engaged in road repairs. The lorry while falling hit them and they got crushed under the vehicle," said Sarkar.

In a separate accident, seven pedestrians were injured Wednesday night when they were hit by a car travelling at high speed in Bagdogra area.