Cooch Behar, July 12: A 65-year-old man, just released from MJN Hospital, died along with two others when the car they were travelling in collided with a North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) bus near Baneswar, 15 km from here, around 11.45 am today.

Three women ? Saira Bano (25), Majiya Bibi (30) and Julekha Bibi (50) ? and an 18-month old child, Rahul Ali, were among the injured persons, who have been admitted to hospital. The deceased have been identified as Mahiruddin (65), his son Maniuddin (32) and Amir Hossain (22), the driver of the car.

Kiran Das, an eyewitness, said the collision occurred as the two vehicles, hurtling towards each other at a tremendous speed, rammed into one another.

Anil Kumar, the superintendent of police of Cooch Behar, said the vehicles have been impounded but the driver of the bus has escaped. No one from among the passengers of the bus has suffered any injury, police said.