Terrifying Multi-Vehicle Crash at Bagmari: On a busy August morning in Kolkata, Bagmari witnessed a horrifying scene when a speeding minibus lost control while descending the eastern slope of the Manicktala Bridge. The vehicle, reportedly suffering from brake failure, attempted to overtake traffic dangerously on the right side. In the process, it smashed into five private cars and a two-wheeler, creating a chain of collisions that left commuters stunned.
The impact was so severe that one car was almost crushed beyond recognition. Inside the bus, panic-stricken passengers screamed for help as the doors jammed due to the force of the crash. Quick-thinking locals and police officers rushed to the scene, smashing the windows to free those trapped inside. The accident left three people injured: 33-year-old Rima Saha, a ride-share passenger; 75-year-old Ranjit Ray, who was inside one of the cars; and 23-year-old biker Akash Shukla. Each of them sustained forehead injuries and was taken to ESI Hospital for treatment before being released later in the evening.
For those present at the site, the visuals of twisted metal, scattered debris, and cries for help painted a haunting picture of how fragile road safety can be in one of India’s busiest cities.
Traffic Paralysis Across Central Kolkata
The crash triggered massive traffic snarls. One and a half lanes of the bridge had to be closed immediately, choking the morning flow of vehicles. Within minutes, congestion rippled outward, spreading to Ultadanga, Phoolbagan, and Vivekananda Road.
Commuters reported being stuck in jams lasting nearly an hour. Some office-goers abandoned buses to walk, while parents trying to drop children to school faced long delays. Even emergency services were affected; ambulances and delivery vehicles had difficulty navigating through the bottleneck. Police officers from Ultadanga Traffic Guard were deployed to control the swelling chaos, diverting vehicles through alternative routes until normalcy was restored in the afternoon.
This wasn’t the first time Bagmari and its adjoining roads had witnessed gridlock, but what stood out was how a single technical fault could paralyze a whole section of the city.
Investigation and Accountability
The Kolkata Police launched a probe to determine whether the accident was caused solely by brake failure or aggravated by human error. The minibus has been sent for a mechanical inspection to assess its fitness.
Officials also pointed to a larger issue: the condition of public buses that often run without rigorous checks. Many of these vehicles are decades old, yet remain in service because of gaps in regulatory oversight. Transport unions argue that maintenance costs and fleet upgrades are expensive, while commuters and safety experts demand stricter norms.
The accident reignited calls for mandatory roadworthiness certificates to be updated more frequently and for surprise fitness audits on buses that ply through congested city zones.
Impact on Daily Life and Public Trust
For residents of Bagmari, the incident was more than just a traffic inconvenience—it was a terrifying reminder of the risks embedded in their daily commute. Pedestrians described how the bus thundered down the slope before ramming into cars, sending shockwaves across the crowded street.
Passengers on the bus later shared that the brakes felt unsteady even before the crash, but their concerns were ignored by the driver. Others highlighted how the slope of the bridge and poor lane discipline often create dangerous situations at this particular stretch.
The fear was palpable. Parents worried about their children who travel daily on school buses along the same route. Office workers debated whether to switch to Metro rail or app cabs to avoid the risk. Above all, the accident dented public trust in both public transport safety and in Kolkata’s road infrastructure.
Terrifying Multi-Vehicle Crash at Bagmari: Civic Concerns and Urban Safety
This crash once again raised questions about infrastructure stress in Kolkata. The Manicktala Bridge, connecting crucial traffic arteries, is a lifeline for commuters, but it now faces scrutiny over design flaws, congestion levels, and its ability to handle thousands of vehicles daily.
Urban planners note that Bagmari is a bottleneck zone, where bridge traffic merges with local roads, increasing the chances of collision. They argue that road redesign, better lane segregation, and modern traffic-light synchronization systems are urgently required.
Transport safety experts stress that such accidents can’t be viewed in isolation. A city’s safety lies in a mix of:
- Vehicle fitness regulation
- Driver training and discipline
- Road design improvements
- Emergency response readiness
Without these, even small mechanical failures can turn into life-threatening events.
Emotional Toll and Community Response
Beyond physical injuries, the accident left an emotional mark. Witnesses described moments of silence followed by sudden screams from those trapped inside the bus. For many, the sight of elderly commuters bleeding or a young biker thrown onto the road was traumatic.
Local residents rallied to help, some offering first aid before ambulances arrived. Civic groups have since demanded better accident-preparedness measures, including dedicated emergency lanes, roadside medical booths, and stricter enforcement of traffic laws in accident-prone zones.
The Bigger Picture
Bagmari’s accident highlights a broader pattern: how micro-level negligence (like ignoring weak brakes) can trigger city-wide disruption. Kolkata, with its mix of old infrastructure and expanding traffic load, is vulnerable to such breakdowns.
This incident serves as a cautionary tale. For city authorities, it is a call to prioritize public transport safety, increase accountability for fleet operators, and modernize bridge and road systems that have carried the weight of the city for decades.
Unless preventive steps are taken, similar accidents could recur—not only risking lives but shaking confidence in Kolkata’s urban mobility.
External Links for Context
- Kolkata Traffic Police – Official Website
- Wikipedia: Maniktala
- Wikipedia: Eastern Metropolitan Bypass
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