The Matador that toppled, leaving four persons dead. Picture by Pradip Sanyal

A goods vehicle carrying an immersion party home overturned in Alipore on Wednesday night, leaving four persons dead and 42 injured.

Three persons died on the spot while the fourth succumbed to his injuries at SSKM Hospital on Thursday morning.

The death at the hospital triggered mob fury, with neighbours of the deceased ransacking two ambulances and blocking Harish Mukherjee Road for around 20 minutes from noon.

Those who died have been identified as Sabita Dolui, 45, Debnath Parui, 22, Putul Dolui, 17, and Raju Dolui, 55. All are residents of the Chetla area.

The residents of the area decided to immerse the Kali idol a day after the November 5 deadline set by the police.

The police said the vehicle carrying 46 people, including children, was returning from Babughat when it toppled in front of National Library around 12.15am.

Some of the survivors have apparently told the police that the driver was drunk and had initially refused to drive back the immersion party but was forced to do so by the organisers.

“The accident was captured by CCTV cameras installed on that stretch of Belvedere Road. The truck was moving very fast and apparently lost balance when a bike it was tailing took a sudden left turn in front of National Library. The truck toppled on its left. One of the occupants was flung to the other flank of the road,” said an officer who had seen the CCTV footage.

Sabita, Putul and Raju were declared dead on arrival at SSKM Hospital. Seventeen revellers, including Debnath and a seven-year-old child, were admitted to SSKM and Sha mbhu Nath Pandit hospitals.

Debnath, who was critically injured, died at SSKM on Thursday morning.

As soon as news of his death spread, people from the neighbourhood who were waiting in the hospital compound started an agitation, alleging medical negligence.

“There was no doctor at night. Those who put Debnath on saline drip forgot to open the cap of the pouch,” alleged Vicky Dutta, a neighbour of Debnath.

Two ambulances parked outside the radiology department of SSKM were ransacked and Harish Mukherjee Road was blocked. The blockade was lifted after police intervened.

Ministers Madan Mitra and Firhad Hakim went to the spot to pacify the mob.

“Every year such incidents happen because of rash driving. This has to stop,” said Mitra.

Countering allegations of inadequate medical staff being present at night, Mitra said: “At night we have to manage with a thin staff. If all doctors work at night, how will the hospital run in the morning?”

Senior police officers refused to comment whether action would be taken against the organisers who had flouted the immersion deadline.