Six people, including two pedestrians, were injured when the front wheel of an autorickshaw came off and the vehicle keeled over on Govindo Auddy Road in Chetla around 7.30pm on Monday.

One of the pedestrians, Tapas Pal, 27, suffered serious head injuries. Police said the overturned auto landed on him. The other pedestrian was a woman.

“Both were returning home from a local market when the accident occurred,” a police officer said.

The other injured were the three passengers travelling in the auto and the driver. The injured were all admitted to BP Poddar and SSKM hospitals.

The auto was heading towards Sakherbazar in Behala from the direction of Rashbehari Avenue.

Mayor Firhad Hakim, a resident of Chetla, visited the accident spot. “The auto hit two pedestrians. One of the injured is critical. The others have suffered hand and leg fractures,” he said.

The incident is a reminder of how vulnerable are thousands of people who commute in autorickshaws daily.

“We keep issuing leaflets and holding workshops to create awareness among auto drivers,” said an officer of the traffic department.