7missing after car crash

Gangtok, June 14: Seven persons were reported missing after an SUV skid off the road and plunged into the Teesta near Mamkhola in Kalimpong last night. Another occupant of the car, Kiran Subba, 35, escaped with critical injuries and was taken to Siliguri for treatment.

The accident occurred at a spot between Rangpoo and Melli along NH31A around 11pm. Police said the missing persons were Amardeep Subba, 23, Sajal Subba, 17, Umesh Subba, 25, Bikash Subba, Mohan Subba, Subash Subba, 18, and Durga Mani Pradhan, 30. Durga was driving the Tata Sumo. The passengers were from the same family. “They are all are residents of Upper Kitam in South Sikkim and were on the way to Gangtok to collect the body of a relative,” said inspector Bijay Subba.