Tura, Mar 23: Two separate road tragedies struck Tura and Williamnagar on Sunday snuffing out the lives of three young men in what has been reported to be high speed reckless driving.
A Maruti gypsy, reportedly belonging to a former student leader turned politician Saljrang R Marak, that was driven by a woman, lost control due to high speed at Bamsamgre- outskirts of Williamnagar town, around 6:30 PM on Sunday leading to a crash.
Two young men who were sitting behind were flung out of the vehicle and landed on the road killing them instantly. The victims are Tengjring M Marak (28 years) from Samanda Dolwarigre and Billar R Marak (24 years) of Rongara Chengni in South Garo Hills.
The injured are Saljrang R Marak (31) of Samanda Dolwarigre and Miss Dikrikchi N Sangma (28) of Balsrigittim, Williamnagar who was behind the wheel when the accident occurred. Both have been shifted to Williamnagar Civil Hospital for treatment.
In an earlier incident that took place during the early morning hours in Tura, three young men on a motorcycle collided head on with a Maruti car coming from the opposite direction outside the gates of Kendriya Vidyalaya Central School in Araimile. One of the victims, Wasa M Sangma of Lower Walbakgre a 25 year old, sustained serious head injuries and was rushed to Tura civil hospital but tragically passed away a few hours later.
Reckless driving has become a major problem in the Garo Hills with many untrained drivers violating traffic rules and speeding. Overloading in vehicles, particularly Mahindra Pik up mini trucks are also posing threat to the lives of many commuters who travel on its back carriers.
Three nights ago, a single cabin Mahindra Pik up mini truck that was filled with a record 41 occupants lost control and went down a slope at Garegittim area of Nengkhra in East Garo Hills. Mothers and children, some as young as a year old, were flung out of the vehicle and had to be searched with torchlights to locate them from the dense undergrowth. Miraculously, all the occupants survived with superficial injuries while the driver sustained a broken leg.
