Kolkata, Dec 13 (IANS) At least 19 people were killed and 21 others injured as a bus and truck-trailer collided head-on at Kulgachia in West Bengal’s Howrah district Sunday night, police said.
“We recovered 12 bodies from the spot. Seven others died in the hospital. The toll may go up as 14 of the injured were serious,” said Howrah district Superintendent of Police Harikishore Kusumakar.

The dead included two women and a child, said a police officer.

According to eyewitnesses, the accident occurred on National Highway (NH) 6 as the driver of the 10-wheel trailer suddenly changed lanes on the Mahishlekha Bridge and collided with the Gadiara-bound bus from Howrah.

The injured have been admitted to the Uluberia sub-divisional hospital.

The trailer driver was among the dead.

A medical team was being rushed to the Uluberia hospital. Following the mishap, a big traffic snarl developed on NH-6, but later cranes were deployed to remove the two crashed vehicles and the road was cleared.