A 60-year-old bicyclist died after being hit by a private car near New Alipore on Sunday morning.

The offending vehicle allegedly fled the spot and could not be identified till late on Sunday, police said.

The bicyclist, whom the police identified as Manohar Lal Shaw, 60, a resident of SN Roy Road in Behala, was taken to Vidyasagar State General Hospital with multiple injuries, where he was declared dead.

The accident happened around 5am on the southern slope of Jai Hind bridge, off Majerhat.

The police said they were examining CCTV footage to ascertain the identity of the vehicle.

The police said the number of cycles on roads have increased following the suspension of local trains and reduction in the number of buses as a precaution against Covid,, but lack of dedicated lanes for cyclists have left them vulnerable to accidents.

Many have opted for cycles just to avoid coming in contact with strangers in buses and autos during the pandemic.

However, lack of safety gear like helmets are putting cyclists at risk.

Although cycling is restricted on thoroughfares in Calcutta, the city police are allowing them so that hundreds of citizens can commute in the absence of local trains and buses.