Tech snag during check crushes cleaner under bus

Kolkata: A cleaner of a Siliguri-bound private Volvo bus was killed after being crushed under it during a suspected technical malfunction at the Karunamayee bus terminus in Salt Lake on Thursday. The deceased, Ramzan Ali Javed from Madhyamgram's Badu, sustained fatal head injuries when the rear portion of the bus suddenly lowered while he was inspecting its tyres from underneath. He was taken to Bidhannagar Sub-Divisional Hospital by police, where doctors declared him dead. According to preliminary findings, the private bus was being readied for departure when Javed positioned himself beneath the rear section and used a hydraulic mechanism to check the condition of the wheels. Witnesses said the rear end of the bus abruptly collapsed, trapping him and causing severe injuries to his head. Locals alerted authorities, following which, cops arranged for his immediate evacuation to the hospital. "The bus was equipped with hydraulic technology, which may have malfunctioned during the inspection of the wheels. While initial indications point towards a technical fault, we have started a detailed probe to determine the exact sequence of events and whether any negligence was involved," said a senior officer of Bidhannagar City Police. No police complaint has been lodged yet by Javed's family members, cops said.In a separate incident, a 22-year-old biker succumbed to injuries sustained in a road accident in New Town earlier this week. The victim, Shahbaz Molla, died late on Tuesday night at a private hospital under Baguiati Police Station limits. According to cops, the accident occurred on March 22 when an auto allegedly hit Molla's bike, which was parked near Eco Urban Village in New Town, and fled the scene. Molla, who was standing beside his vehicle at the time, suffered multiple fractures in his right leg along with serious bodily injuries. He was found unconscious. His family lodged a formal complaint at Eco Park Police Station on Wednesday.