Speeding mania draws blood again

Barun Chakraborty (42),his wife Jaysree (37) and another passenger Ashim Pal (37) were sitting on the window seat of the Howrah-Behala bus at the time of the incident.

While Jaysree’s right arm was ripped off and fell on the road,Barun’s hand was left dangling from his shoulder. Ashim’s hand was squashed.

The three immediately lost consciousness.

Locals chased the drivers but they managed to escape. The police rushed the three to SSKM Hospital,where the couple was operated upon.

Pal was later taken to a private nursing home in Dhakuria by his relatives and he would be operated upon.

“We have seized both the vehicles,but the drivers and conductors are absconding. We are looking for them,” said a police officer.

Police said the couple are residents of 3/24 Rabindranagar and their six-year-old son who was also travelling with them is unhurt.

Barun’s elder brother Swapan said the couple’s condition law was critical,with doctors saying his brother’s arm might have to be amputated.

“It is unfortunate that such a mishap has occurred. We are still working out the issue of commission system,which is the current mode of payment for buses,” said Transport Minister Ranjit Kundu.

A proposal for replacing the commission system — in which payment is linked to the number of trips — with a system where driver would work for a fixed salary has been on the cards for two years but is yet to be implemented.