The first day of 2025 turned tragic for Kolkata as the city witnessed two separate road accidents, resulting in one fatality and leaving four individuals with injuries. The incidents, occurring within hours of each other, have cast a shadow over the New Year celebrations and raised fresh concerns about road safety in the metropolitan area.
Fatal Collision Near Railway Stations
The year's first fatal accident was reported in the afternoon of Thursday, January 1st. The location was the connecting road that links Kolkata Railway Station with Ultadanga Railway Station. The collision occurred around 1:30 pm.
According to reports, a pedestrian was struck by a motorcycle. The impact was severe, and the victim, later identified as Dharmendra Sharma (27), a resident of Titagarh, succumbed to his injuries after being rushed to RG Kar Hospital. The two young riders on the bike were also seriously hurt in the crash. They have been named as Ritam Pal (18) and Sudipta Das (18), both hailing from the nearby Dakshindari area.
Morning Crash on AJC Bose Road Flyover
In an unrelated incident earlier the same day, two more bikers were injured in a collision on a major city thoroughfare. This accident took place on the AJC Bose Road flyover at approximately 7:00 am on Thursday.
The victims in this case were two young men from Howrah. Umang Hela (23) from Golabari and Ashok Jaiswal (22) from Daspara were riding their motorcycle when they were hit by a private car. Both sustained injuries in the impact. The early morning timing of the crash suggests it may have occurred during the commute hours, highlighting the risks during peak traffic.
Aftermath and Safety Concerns
The back-to-back accidents on New Year's Day have brought the perennial issue of road safety in Kolkata back into sharp focus. The incidents involved vulnerable road users—pedestrians and two-wheeler riders—who are often at highest risk in urban traffic environments.
The police are investigating the exact causes of both collisions. Factors such as speeding, distracted driving, or possible disregard for traffic rules on a holiday are typically examined in such cases. The tragic death of Dharmendra Sharma and the injuries to four young men serve as a grim reminder for all commuters to exercise extreme caution, especially during festive periods when traffic patterns can be unpredictable.
These events underscore the urgent need for continued public awareness campaigns and stricter enforcement of traffic regulations to prevent such heartbreaking losses of life on the city's roads.
