5 killed, 9 injured in road mishap

Five persons were killed and nine others were critically injured after the vehicle they were travelling in hit an electric post in Meghalaya's West Garo Hills district today.

All the victims were travelling to Tura from Mankachar town in Assam, the police said.

The accident took place when the driver lost control over the vehicle when it was travelling down a slope. The vehicle hit an electric post before rolling down and hitting a wall near the Tura home guard compound, district superintendent of police Raghavendra Kumar said.

Two passengers - a man and a woman were killed on the spot, while three others succumbed to their injuries at the hospital. The three who died at the hospital comprised two woman and a boy.
 

State Disaster Response Force and homeguards personnel, who were nearby, rushed to the spot and jumped to the rescue of the passengers.

The SP said the nine critically injured are being treated at Tura Civil Hospital.