The Bhutan Post passenger bus plying to Kolkata from Phuentsholing collided with a speeding truck yesterday morning at Bethuadhari in West Bengal, India.

There were 28 people, including two drivers and a helper, in the bus. All are reported to be safe.A total of 19 passengers were Bhutanese.

Officials said representatives from the Bhutanese consul general office in Kolkata and Bhutan Post received the passengers.

Consulate general of Bhutan in Kolkata, Thinlay Wangchuk said they have received the passengers and checked each one of them.

“All are fine,” he said. “However, a monk has been admitted for further treatment for his broken teeth.”

He also said that one of the Bhutanese passengers was a referral patient to Kolkata. The patient had two escorts and all are safe without injuries.

Thinlay Wangchuk said their office first received the information from the home ministry.

“We immediately contacted our counterparts,” he said, adding that he was able to talk to the district magistrate and arrange all possible help.

Officials from Phuentsholing drungkhag and Bhutan Post regional office said that the passengers were trans-shifted to another bus and reached safely to Kolkata.

A representative from Bhutan Post office in Phuentsholing also left for Kolkata yesterday evening.He will visit the site at Bethuadhari tomorrow.

Bethuadhari is more than 600 km away from Phuentsholing. Kolkata is 750 km from Phuentsholing.

Meanwhile, in October 2015, a 45-year old Bhutanese died when a Kolkata bound Bhutan Post bus met with an accident after hitting a cowshed. The accident occurred at Raiganj, West Bengal, more than 350km away from Phuentsholing.

Rajesh Rai | Phuentsholing

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