One killed in South Sikkim road mishap, driver absconds

DRIVER FELL ASLEEP, SURVIVORS INFORM COPS
JORETHANG, 01 Apr: One person was killed and five injured when the vehicle they were returning in from a visit to the Solophok Char Dhaam on the occasion of Ram Nawami today met with an accident at Nandugaon, a short distance from here.
The group, hailing from Mangsabong Yuksam in West Sikkim, was travelling in a Tempo Trax [SK-02J-0529] and were on their way back when, upon reaching a spot near the Nandugaon Panchayat Bhawan, the driver, who is also the owner, lost control and the vehicle skidded off the road falling around 25 feet below.
25 year old Deepa Subba, wife of Siliman Subba of Mangsabong basti, was killed on the spot while the other occupants suffered minor injuries. There were 15 people on board the vehicle including the driver. The injured passengers were rushed to the District Hospital at Namchi.
OC, Jorethang Police Station, Shenga Bhutia, informs that the taxi was taken on hire by the group from Mangsabong for a pilgrimage tour to Char Dhaam. The driver, who also hailed from the same village, has absconded, the OC informs, adding that the passengers have revealed that the driver had fallen asleep while driving, leading to the accident.
As per the statement reportedly given to the Police by the victims, the vehicle was plying in a high speed and the driver dozing off. The Police have registered a case under section 279/ 337/ 338/ 304A against the driver at Jorethang Police Station and a search is underway to nab the absconding driver.