GANGTOK: In a devastating incident, three individuals lost their lives at a mela in Ranipool, located 11 kilometers from Gangtok, when a truck crashed into a crowd. The tragic event unfolded around 7:13 pm on Saturday evening, during the peak rush hour at the mela. The truck, coming from the uphill Gangtok area, collided straight into the crowd at the mela venue, which had been hosting the event for over a month.
Among the three casualties, one is a female in her mid-20s, while the other two males are in their mid-30s. The identity of the female and one male victim is yet to be determined. The identified male casualty was an off-duty police officer.
Over 17 individuals sustained injuries, with the youngest being an 11-year-old male and the eldest a 60-year-old male. The injured group includes 16 males and females, with another police officer among the injured.
During the incident, the milk truck initially collided with three taxi vehicles parked outside the mela venue, pushing and dragging them toward the crowded area.
The driver, in his mid-20s, is reported to be uninjured, and initial reports confirm he was not under the influence of alcohol. He has been taken into custody.
The vehicle bears the logo of Sikkim Milk Union, although no other ownership details of the truck are known as of now, as per information provided by the Sikkim Police.
Among the three deceased, one is a 20-year-old male student from a local university residing in Ranka, across the Gangtok hills. The other male victim is a police personnel from Pakyong District. The female victim remains unidentified, with sources suggesting she hails from Jaigaon, West Bengal.
The Central Referral Hospital received a total of 27 patients from the truck accident at Ranipool Mela on Saturday night. Among them, two patients were already pronounced deceased upon arrival.
Six patients were in critical condition, and sadly, one of them succumbed to injuries at the hospital. Five critical patients are currently in the Intensive Care Unit, receiving either surgical or orthopedic treatment. The remaining 16 patients are in the wards under observation, with none requiring referral outside of the state.
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Sikkim Milk Union has denied ownership of the vehicle, asserting that it was auctioned in 2023 to a private bidder. The official also claimed that the bearing of the Sikkim Milk Union logo was not removed.
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