40 cattle charred to death

40 cattle were charred to death when a a truck which was carrying them caught fire after an accident on NH 31 near Pachgama today, police said.

The incident took place under Akbarpur police station area when a speeding truck skidded off and hit a stationary motorcycle leading to fire in the fuel tank, they said.

The truck, which was on its way to Kolkata, was reduced to ashes killing the animals on it, police said adding the driver and the helper of the vehicle managed to flee after the incident.