A trip to the Sunderbans turned fatal early on Tuesday when a tourist vehicle crashed into an electric post at the Pancham Bazaar area of Dholahat, South 24-Parganas, killing three people and injuring at least 20 others.

The deceased trio, part of a tourist group from Patharpratima, were travelling in a pick-up van when the accident occurred.

Police identified them Sovon Porua, Chandrakanta Shi and his wife Parvati Shi, all in their early 30s.

According to police and local sources, residents from Ganjer Bazar village in Patharpratima hired two pick-up vans for their journey.

Setting off early, the group hoped to reach their destination by morning.

However, near Dholahat of Patharpratima, barely 4km into their journey, one of the vans, reportedly running at high speed lost control and crashed into a roadside concrete electric post.

Hearing a loud crash, nearby residents rushed to the scene to rescue the victims. Rushed to the Godamathura Primary Health Centre, three persons were declared dead by the on-duty doctors. The injured persons were referred to Diamond Harbour Super Specialty Hospital for further treatment.

While the exact cause of the accident remains unclear, a police officer said thatthe driver’s fatigue mighthave caused the accident.

“The driver might have dozed off, causing him to lose control of the vehicle and crash into the post. An investigation into the incident is underway,” a police officer of Patharpratima said.