A Howrah station-bound private bus from Metiabruz, of route 12A/B, hit a pillar of the Howrah bridge after ramming into the footpath railing, leaving at least seven passengers, including a minor, seriously injured around 12.40pm on Friday.
Police said the bus swer-ved, rammed into the iron railing that demarcates the bridge’s footpath for pedestrians and came to a halt after hitting pillar number 5 of the 81-year-old bridge.
“A few of the injured told us that the bus driver kept saying the brakes weren’t working and that he didn’t find it safe to continue driving the vehicle down the bridge’s slope,” said a police officer. “The driver managed to escape soon after the accident. We are trying to get hold of him. The owner of the bus has been informed.”
Officials of the Calcutta Port Trust, which maintains the Howrah bridge, said the collision did not damage the pillar. Engineering consulting agency, Rites, will run a check of the pillar nevertheless, the officials said.
“No damage was observed in the pillar of the Howrah bridge,” a Calcutta Port Trust official said. “Two footpath railings around the pillars were damaged. They will be restored as early as possible.”
Mohammad Habib, a passenger who suffered multiple injuries and was admitted to Howrah State General Hospital, told reporters he had boarded the bus from Kidderpore.
“I was seated in the front, adjoining the driver’s cabin. The bus kept swerving and suddenly I realised it hit a pillar of the bridge after ramming into two iron railings,” Habib said. “I touched my face and realised there was blood trickling down.”
Six of the seven injured were admitted to the hospital while the seventh, 62-year-old Barun Patra from Panchanantala Road in Howrah, was released after treatment.
The Howrah bridge, otherwise known as Rabindra Setu, was constructed by the Calcutta Port Trust from 1937 to 1942 and opened to traffic in February 1943.
The spot around the accident site on the Howrah-bound lane was cordoned off immediately after the accident. Police ambulances ferried the injured to the hospital.
“We have seized the vehicle. A mechanical test will be performed,” an officer said.