Morning pleasure trip turns fatal Two more hurt
SHILLONG: An early morning trip to Mylliem undertaken by three persons including NEHU Deputy Registrar Jaya Bhattacharjee, to have a glimpse of the frost on Monday turned fatal as the car in which they were travelling, collided with another vehicle near Anjalee Petrol Pump, here killing the NEHU official who was driving her vehicle and injuring two others.
The accident took place at 6.50 am on Monday when the trio was returning from Mylliem after experiencing the winter frost, police said.
The car (Hyundai i-10, ML05 M 4223) carrying the three occupants including Jaya collided with a Mahindra Maxx tourist vehicle (ML05E 8728) coming from the opposite direction resulting in the tragic incident.
According to police, three occupants of the Mahindra Maxx, who were injured, including the driver Shabor Nongkhlaw (26) were taken to Civil Hospital for treatment.
According to eye witnesses, Jaya, Deputy Registrar (Finance), NEHU, was gasping for breath when she was taken to the hospital and subsequently passed away at 7:43 am.
The 43-year-old, who was also a part time news anchor in Doordarshan Kendar Shillong and All India Radio, was promoted to Assistant Registrar of NEHU’s post in 2011.
The other occupants of the car, a cousin and a friend of Jaya, are being treated for their injuries at a city based hospital.
Subrata Chaudhury(57), a lecturer in the Kiang Nangbah Government College, Jowai and Shyamnanda Bhattacharjee (59), an official of the North Eastern Council (NEC) were travelling with Jaya. Jaya’s body was taken to Ferndale Rapsang Complex opposite Secretariat and cremation will take place on Tuesday. Her relatives informed that the post mortem report will reveal some details about her death although the doctors mentioned that she had suffered internal hemorrhage.Her brother suspected that the other vehicle must have taken a short cut while her sister moaned her loss. “When I found her she was no more,” she said. The trio moved out at around 4:30 in the morning to catch a glimpse of blanket of frost covering Mylliem during morning hours.
SK Srivastava, NEHU Vice Chancellor, said that her death brought about a huge loss to the NEHU fraternity and terming her as “the finest officer in the University” stating that a condolence meeting will be held at the University on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Police are yet to ascertain the exact cause of the accident.