Driver BK Singh at the Kalimpong subdivisional hospital on Monday. Picture by Chinlop Fudong Lepcha

Darjeeling, Jan. 17: Four persons died and eight others, including two boys, were injured seriously when a dumper truck belonging to the Garrison Reserve Engineering Force hurtled down a 60ft gorge near Teesta Bazaar this morning.

Both legs of a boy were amputated at a Kalimpong hospital.

The accident occurred when “the steering got locked” and the driver lost control of the truck that was carrying 15 people from Gorubathan to Melli. The dead included two women who were hitching a ride.

“The truck was coming from Gorubathan and was heading towards Melli when the driver lost control of the vehicle. So far, four people, including two women, have died and eight others were seriously injured,” said D.P. Singh, the superintendent of police of Darjeeling.

Kumar Pradhan, 52, B. Sonam, 25, Pramila Rai, 45, and Sanju Rai, 35, died on the spot. The injured persons were first admitted to Kalimpong subdivisional hospital and later referred to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital as their condition was serious.

Rahul Chhetri, 8, and Raju Kumar Sahu, 9, were collecting firewood when the truck hit them.

“Both the legs of Rahul were amputated. His friend Raju has suffered injuries on the head,” said a source.

The other five persons on the truck, including driver B.K. Singh, also suffered injuries and were being treated at the Kalimpong hospital. Their condition was stated to be stable.

“My steering got locked and I could not stop my vehicle immediately,” said Singh in Kalimpong while being treated for a head injury and a deep cut on his back.

The truck fell almost 50-60ft down the gorge on the bank of the Teesta, 16km from Kalimpong, around 11.30am.

The GREF is a wing of the Border Roads Organisation, which maintains NH31A.

“Most of the people in the vehicle were on their way to work near Melli. Sonam and Pramila had taken a lift somewhere near Coronation Bridge,” said the source.

Soon after the accident, raft operators who take tourists for rides on the Teesta swung into rescue operation.

“An army ambulance stationed at a camp in Chitray, (1.5km from the accident site) ferried most of the injured to the Kalimpong hospital,” said a local youth.