An 11-year-old schoolgirl lost her life on Tuesday morning after a battery-operated scooter she was travelling on lost balance and plunged into a pond near Didimoni bus stop in the Sonarpur area of South 24 Parganas district.
Accident while on way to school
The deceased has been identified as Smriti Tarafdar, a Class 5 student of Basanti Devi Balika Vidyalaya. According to police, the accident occurred around 10.30 am while she was on her way to school.
Smriti was travelling on a battery-operated scooter along with her cousin Disha, a Class 11 student, and another sibling, Shruti Tarafdar. The scooter was being driven by Disha.
Scooter loses control on narrow road
Eyewitnesses said that as the scooter approached a narrow stretch near the pond, Disha attempted to give way to a passing vehicle. During the manoeuvre, she allegedly lost control of the two-wheeler.
Within moments, the scooter skidded off the road and plunged into the adjoining pond, throwing all three girls into the water.
Rescue efforts by locals
Local residents rushed to the spot immediately and began rescue operations. Disha and Shruti were pulled out of the pond within minutes and survived the mishap.
However, Smriti could not be located initially and remained missing in the water for nearly 20 minutes. She was later retrieved by locals and rushed to a nearby private hospital, where doctors declared her dead.
Police probe underway
Police from Sonarpur Police Station reached the spot soon after being informed and initiated an investigation.
“We are examining the exact circumstances of the accident and whether any external factor contributed to the loss of balance,” a police officer said, adding that further inquiry is underway to ascertain the precise cause of the mishap.
The tragic incident has cast a pall of gloom over the locality and raised concerns about road safety, especially for children using battery-operated vehicles on narrow roads near open water bodies.