Bengal govt orders inquiry into Pranab's accident

Kolkata, Apr 8( UNI) A thorough investigation, led by Nadia Superintendent of Police H K Kusum Kumar, has been ordered into the accident of Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who was seriously injured when a truck slammed into his car in Nadia district last night.

Talking to UNI over telephone, IG (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia today that an inquiry has already commenced into the matter and why the traffic was not stopped when the Foreign Minister was travelling.'' However, he mentioned that according to primary reports the lorry driver apparently lost control when a tyre burst as Mr Mukherjee's convoy was driving past in the opposite lane.

District Magistrate Omkar Singh Meena said the investigation has been started.

''Traffic stoppage was partial as Mr Mukherjee's convoy was travelling on NH 34 and traffic cannot be fully stopped on national Highways. The accident occurred due to tyre burst and the pilot car was in a distance from the Foreign Minister's car,'' Mr Meena said.

The accident took place last night as Mr Mukherjee was travelling back from his Parliamentary constituency Berhampore in Murshidabad to Kolkata.

He has been flown to New Delhi for further treatment.

UNI