Imphal, December 18 2009: A woman was killed while 27 others sustained injuries of varying degrees in two vehicle accidents that took place at Imphal West and Churachandpur district areas in the past 48 hours.

In the mishap that claimed the life of a woman passenger four other passengers including another woman sustained injuries when the Tata Sumo in which they were travelling turned turtle at Awang Khunou along Imphal-Jiribam Road yesterday afternoon.

According to police report, the incident occurred at around 1.45 pm yesterday.

The registration number of the ill-fated Tata Sumo is MN-01W/5664 .

In the said incident one woman passenger identified as Soram Soro Devi (37) w/o Maimu of Lilong Chajing Karam Makha Leikai got killed while four other passengers including a woman sustained injuries.

The body of the deceased has been handed over to her family members after post-mortem examination at the mortuary of RIMS here today.

Meanwhile, according information provided by our Churachandpur correspondent S Singlianmang Guite at least 23 passengers were injured today morning when a speeding town bus overturned along at Tiddim Road opposite to the District Transport Office here, sending shock waves across the township and many pointing their fingers to the habitual recklessness of town bus drivers.

As many as six of the injured have been referred to Imphal for treatment, while three are being admitted at the special ward of the district hospital here.

The remaining have been administered first aid or treated at the surgical ward of the same hospital.

Moments after the mishap, that occurred barely about a kilometre away from the police station, police personnel seized the bus but not the driver as he allegedly escaped soon after the incident.

Police have identified the vehicle owner as Meghachandra of Tuibuang village.

Registration number of the bus is MN 01/0982 .

According to Pumdou, one of the injured the fully packed town-bus was speeding before it went out of control and overturned while trying to overtake a car in front of the transport office.

Children of G Pumkhanthang, another injured passenger, alleged that their semi-conscious father was robbed of his mobile phone and snickers by a youth moments after the mishap.

"We were told by his co-passengers that a youth entered the bus immediately after the bus turned turtle and checked his pockets.

His mobile phone was gone and so was his snicker,'' Mung, his eldest son told this correspondent.

Though the local police have sought time to ascertain the identity of the bus owner, sources hinted that it belongs to some one from Moirang in Bishnupur district.

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