Overview

• The crash occurred around 8 p.m. Friday near Melli in the Melli Kirani stretch of NH-10 under Kalimpong police station limits.
• The group was returning to Gangtok after a religious programme in Jalpaiguri’s Patharjhora when their vehicle fell about 100 metres into a gorge.
• The deceased were identified as Kamal Subba, Samira Subba, Januka Darjee, and Nita Gurung, all from East Sikkim.
• The injured are Sunita Thapa, eight-year-old Sandria Rai, and five-year-old Samiul Darjee, who were first taken to Melli Hospital and later shifted to Sokeythang Hospital in Gangtok.
• Kalimpong police confirmed the bodies were sent for post-mortem as the investigation continues, with local accounts citing possible headlight glare and authorities noting recent heavy rainfall in the region.