2 killed, 17 hurt in road accidents

Kohima, Nov 12 (UNI) At least two persons were killed and 17 others injured, some of them seriously, in two separate accidents on National Highway 39.

Official sources here today said a bus, coming from Imphal and bound for Guwahati, met with an accident near Kukidolong on NH 39 at around 1800 hours yesterday, injuring 13 passengers.

While the driver was negotiating a sharp bend, the bus skidded off the road and fell into the Chathe river, about 20 feet below the road.

Seven seriously injured passengers were admitted to various hospitals in Dimapur.

The passengers alleged that the bus driver was talking on his mobile phone and driving the vehicle absent-mindedly.

However, the driver managed to flee. Police launched a manhunt to apprehend the driver.

In the second incident, an auto rickshaw with six passengers was travelling from Medziphema to Dimapur yesterday when it skidded off the road near Jharnapani, New Chumukedima, and fell into a shallow river, killing two persons, including a woman.

Four others, including the driver, were injured and two of them were admitted to hospitals.

Police arrested the driver of the auto rickshaw for negligent driving.

UNI AS DPM SS1056