A family returning home after completing the last rites of a relative met with an accident on NH16 at Uluberia in Howrah on Thursday morning and lost two of its members.
At least 10 others were injured when the allegedly speeding SUV hit a lamp post, turned on its side and collided head-on with another car, police said.
The family from Bagnan was returning from a burning ghat in Bauria.
The son of the woman whose last rites had been performed was among the eight persons in the vehicle who were injured.
“I was returning after performing the last rites of my mother. I was glued to my mobile phone when the accident took place. The vehicle fell on its side and hit another car travelling in the opposite direction,” said Tanmay Dhara.
The deceased were identified as Bulan Dhara and Prasanta Pathak. Both were travelling in the SUV.
The injured were admitted to Sarat Chandra Medical College and Hospital, the police said.
The two vehicles were severely damaged in the impact of the collision. They were towed away from the accident site to clear traffic movement on the national highway.
Bystanders and eyewitnesses told police that the SUV was speeding on the national highway when the driver lost control and veered towards one end of the thoroughfare before ramming into a lamp post.
“After hitting the post at high speed the vehicle turned on one of its sides and hit another vehicle coming on the opposite side. This took place around 5.30am near the Fakirpara crossing in Uluberia,” said Suraj Rahman, a resident.
“Some of us were returning after offering our morning prayers when the accident occurred,” Rahman added.
The accident spot is located between two busy intersections in Uluberia that are usually manned by traffic police. But early on Thursday morning, there were none.
Residents who had gathered around the accident site joined hands to extricate the injured from the two vehicles before the police and firefighters reached with tow-away vans and ambulances.
“Forensic tests of both the vehicles will be conducted. We’ll speak to the injured once they are in a state to give their statements,” said a senior police officer.