NewsUpdate: Teesta Accident

Two killed as vehicle falls in Teesta; 3 missing, feared dead
Kolkata, May 15: TWO persons died and six sustained injuries when the vehicle, a Manhindra Maxx mainline taxi SK-04-7056 plying between Siliguri-Gangtok, they were travelling in fell into the Teesta river near Likhuvir under Kalimpong subdivision of Darjeeling district on Tuesday afternoon. Three persons, untraced so far, are feared to be dead. Three of the injured and one of the missing persons are from Kolkata.
According to the police, a group of 10 people hired a vehicle from Kalimpong for a trip to Sikkim’s capital Gangtok. When the vehicle reached near Likhuvir around 12.30 pm, a huge stone rolled down from the seismologically fragile hilltop and landed in front of the running vehicle. The vehicle turned turtle and rolled down a gorge into the turbulent Teesta, killing Bhargabi Anna and Anil Subba of Sikkim on the spot, said ASP Humayun Kabir.
IG, Law and Order, Raj Kanojia said: “The three missing persons, including Mehul Desai, a resident of Garia who worked with ICICI Bank, Salt Lake Sector–II branch, are feared to be dead. Another person from Kolkata, Mridula Desai, sustained injuries.”
The injured also include a middle-aged couple, Bhabesh Narshima and K Narshima, residents of Bhawanipur, Kolkata. “We heard their condition is quite serious. Their family members have already left for Siliguri,” said an officer of Bhawanipur police station.
The injured were shifted to the North Bengal Medical College and some private nursing homes in Siliguri, said the police. Local authorities and NGOs have initiated rescue operation at the accident spot. A rafting team has also been involved in the operation, said the ASP.

Gangtok:As per reports in local media, a Tadong Youth Shiva at a traumatic time like this ignored the injuries he has suffered himself to rush into raging Teesta river and rescued three passengers.Eyewitness accounts reveals that it was when he was turning back to the Teesta for fourth time that he lost consciousness himself.
Shiva,taken to kalimpong along with the other injured passengers, was brought to STNM hospital in Gangtok late in evening.He is reported to have lost lots of blood and many youths from Tadong rushed to STNM to donate blood for Shiva who is now fighting a brave battle for his life and health.