One Woman Killed, Four Critically Injured As Car Crashes Into Pit in Dudhpatil During Puja Outing

Amidst the Durga Puja festivities, a tragic road accident cast a pall of grief after a Maruti Suzuki Baleno carrying five young people crashed into a deep pit at Dudhpatil in Cachar on Sunday (October 18) morning, the day of Maha Saptami. The accident claimed the life of Panchali Chakraborty, a young woman reportedly from Silchar’s Gungoor area, while four others sustained critical injuries.

According to local sources, the five youngsters, comprising three women and two men, were on their way to visit Durga Puja pandals when the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle bearing registration number AS-11U-2604. The car veered off the road and overturned into a deep pit in an agricultural field, leaving all five occupants seriously injured.

Local residents rushed to the spot and rescued the injured from the vehicle before taking them to the hospital. However, Panchali Chakraborty succumbed to her injuries. The other four occupants are currently undergoing treatment in critical condition at Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH).

Meanwhile, the accident has brought renewed attention to concerns raised by locals over alleged late-night drinking and gatherings along the Moinarbond–Madhuramukh stretch and a section near Larsingpar.

According to locals, these stretches often become gathering spots in the evening as the roads remain deserted, with few or no houses and shops nearby. Locals alleged that groups of young men and women frequently gather in the area to smoke, drink and socialise late into the night.

Locals have urged the police to intensify patrolling in these stretches, particularly during the festive season, when large numbers of young people travel to visit Puja pandals.

Some locals also expressed concern that intoxication could have been a factor in the Dudhpatil accident. However, there is no official confirmation that alcohol or any other intoxicating substance was involved in the crash, and the exact cause of the accident remains unclear.