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Gangtok: In a heart-wrenching incident, Sikkim witness a horrific mishap at mela ground held in Ranipool – 11 km from Gangtok. At least three people were killed and 30 critically injured as a milk truck lost control and plowed through the crowd. The incident happened a little after 7 pm this evening when hundreds had gathered at the mela ground. The incident occurred amidst the lively atmosphere of the fair, sending shockwaves through the local community.
The distressing episode transpired when a vehicle affiliated with the Sikkim Milk Union collided into four stationed cars within the fair premises. The bustling event, which attracted numerous attendees, quickly turned into a scene of chaos and distress.
The milk truck coming from uphill Gangtok went straight into the crowd at the mela being held at a truck terminal for over a month now. It first hit three taxis parked outside the venue, dragging them towards the crowd.
Among the three dead, one is a woman in her mid 20s while the others are men in their mid-30s. The identities of the woman and a man are yet to be ascertain. The other man was an off-duty police officer.
Twenty people were swiftly rushed to the Central Referral Hospital in Tadong. Among the injured, the youngest is an 11-year-old boy and the oldest is a 60-year-old man.
The driver, in his mid-20s, was not injured and has been apprehended. He was not driving under the influence of alcohol, initial reports said. The vehicle has the bearing of Sikkim Milk Union and no other ownership of the truck is known so far, the police said.
