Barik Point accident: Toll mounts to three
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Confusion over the timing of the one way traffic regulation between Civil Hospital to Barik Point has claimed the lives of three of a family on Saturday.
Govin Chetri (30) and his 2-year-old daughter Mahek Chetri, were killed on the spot when the motorcycle (ML 05H 861) they were traveling in collided with a truck (AS 01AC 3272) at Barik Point. Chetri’s wife Pushpa (26) succumbed to her injuries.
Govin and Pushpa left behind their six-year-old daughter Muskaan who has not yet been told about her parent’s and sister’s fate.
The young girl will have to come to terms with the loss of both parents and her sister. She has only heard that there was some accident and nothing beyond that.
The relatives have not yet revealed the truth to Muskaan as they fear that she would be traumatised at the loss of her parents and younger sister.
The grief stricken grandmother of Muskaan, Lakshmi Thapa is also worried about her grandchild.
According to the grandmother, the three had gone to attend a marriage reception at Nongmynsong.
“I had told them to return home the next morning since it is very risky in the night time. I had also told them that she would take care of their elder daughter. But they insisted on returning home late on Saturday evening since they were worried about Muskaan who was left alone at home,” Lakshmi said on Sunday.
She said she received a call from the police informing that her daughter and son-in-law met with a minor accident.
“On reaching the Shillong Civil Hospital, I was told that my son-in-law and my youngest granddaughter are no more,” the grandmother said while adding that they were also told to rush her daughter who was in a critical condition to Woodland Hospital.
But she succumbed to her injuries before reaching the hospital,” inconsolable Lakshmi Thapa informed.
This accident has raised a major question over the traffic arrangement along Barik Point.
During the day, the Traffic Police have made the route from Barik point towards Shillong Civil Hospital a one-way lane.
But many are not aware of the actual timing when the one-way rule is lifted.
When contacted, Additional SP (Traffic) Herbert G Lyngdoh said that the one-way timing along the route from Barik to Shillong Civil Hospital point is from 8 am to 8 pm.
“After lifting of the one-way, our traffic personnel used to remain till 8.30 pm to see there is no confusion among the general public. We in fact also remove the No-Entry Board along this route after 8 pm,” Lyngdoh said.
Meanwhile, he informed that the driver of the truck who is currently undergoing treatment at the Civil Hospital has been arrested and a case has also been registered against him in this connection.