Traffic:  A 53-year-old man died and five others critically injured when the vehicle they were traveling in went off about 10 metres below the road in Martshala gewog, Samdrupcholing dungkhag on September 7.

The accident occurred around 11:30pm.

The injured were the driver, a five-year-old boy, the deceased’s wife and two teachers. The driver has been referred to a hospital in Guwahati, Assam while the four passengers are admitted in Dewathang hospital.

They were on their way to Samdrupcholing dungkhag from Martshala when the accident occurred. The deceased, a livestock officer of Martshala gewog first travelled to Samdrupjongkhar to procure materials for piggery sheds to be distributed to the farmers.

Martshala gup Yenten Dorji said that after procuring CGI sheets, cement and iron rods, they returned to Samdrupcholing and then left for Martshala gewog in the evening.

While returning, passengers said that the vehicle skidded and toppled while climbing a steep slope.

The deceased was from Zhemgang.

Martshala is about 13km from the dungkhag. The accident occurred right after ​the vehicle crossed ​the Richanglu bridge.

The gup said that the other passengers were thrown out of the vehicle while the deceased who was seated in the front, died of impact. The vehicle was damaged beyond repair.

The driver runs a shop in the gewog besides driving the Bolero taxi. He is a licensed driver​. ​

Yangchen C Rinzin,  Samdrupjongkhar

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