What Caused the NH12 Crash Near Raiganj That Left 5 Dead?

Quick answer: Five people died in the early hours of 10 October 2026 when a pickup van carrying poultry rammed into a sand-laden truck parked on NH12 at Bhiti, near Raiganj in West Bengal's North Dinajpur district.

Key facts

• What: Road crash — pickup van rear-ended a parked truck (NH12, near Raiganj, India)
• Where: Bhiti, near Raiganj, North Dinajpur district, West Bengal, India
• Reported: 10 October 2026, via The Telegraph India
• Reported toll: 5 killed
• Emergency number: 112
• Status: developing — figures may change

What happened

Around 4am on 10 October 2026, a pickup van carrying poultry crashed into a sand-laden truck that was parked by the roadside on NH12 at Bhiti, in the Raiganj police station area of North Dinajpur district, West Bengal. The truck had been heading towards Malda when its driver pulled over after it ran out of fuel.

The impact mangled the pickup van. Four people were found dead inside it, and a fifth, who was critically injured, was rushed to Raiganj Government Medical College & Hospital, where he died soon after.

The victims

The five people who died were named as Sohel Akhtar, 45, Shayen Akhtar, 16, Ramzan Momin, 25, Hasrat Ali, 16, and Mohammad Mustafa, 18. All five were from different localities in the Kaliachak police station area.

Emergency response

The loud noise of the crash alerted nearby residents, who rushed to the scene and began rescue efforts before a police team arrived. The injured man was taken to Raiganj Government Medical College & Hospital, and the bodies of those who died were sent for post-mortem examination.

What the truck driver said

Ahad Sheikh, the driver of the parked truck, said he had stopped the vehicle by the road because it had run out of fuel, and had taken a drum to a nearby petrol pump. "When I returned, I found that the accident had taken place," he said.

Investigation

Police seized both vehicles and registered a case. Officers said a probe was under way.

A separate crash in Malda

The same report describes a second, separate incident in Malda on the night of 9 October: an e-rickshaw carrying a family from Babupur — on their way to catch a train to Howrah — collided head-on with a Gazole police patrol van near the entrance of Gazole railway station at Karallabhita More. One e-rickshaw passenger, 41-year-old Jarjis Alam of Babupur, was declared dead at the state general hospital in Gazole, while nine others, including three policemen, were injured and later referred to Malda Medical College & Hospital. Police registered a case and said a probe was on.

Where it happened

Raiganj is a town in the North Dinajpur district of West Bengal, India, and NH12 is a major national highway crossing the state. In an emergency in India, dial 112. See the India live accident page for everything reported there in the last 24 hours.

If you drive on routes like this

• Slow down in unfamiliar conditions: every 1% of extra speed raises fatal-crash risk about 4%
• Never assume the other vehicle sees you at night or in rain — drive as if it doesn't
• Never stop or park on a highway shoulder without warning triangles or lights if you can avoid it
• Wear the seatbelt in every seat; rear belts save lives in head-on impacts
• Know the local emergency number before you travel — our emergency numbers directory covers every country

What happens next

Police normally publish a confirmed casualty count within 24 to 48 hours once the injured are counted and victims identified. A crash investigation follows: vehicle condition, speed, driver hours and road condition. Where a commercial vehicle is involved, the operator's licence and maintenance records are examined. We update the India live page as new reports surface; the original outlet linked below will carry the confirmed figures first.

Frequently asked questions

How many people died in the Raiganj NH12 crash?

Initial reports state 5 people were killed. Tolls from major incidents are often revised in the first 48 hours as hospitals confirm identities; check the original report for the latest figure.

Where did the crash happen?

On NH12 at Bhiti, in the Raiganj police station area of North Dinajpur district, West Bengal, India.

What caused the Raiganj NH12 crash?

The cause has not been officially confirmed at the time of writing. The pickup van rear-ended a truck that had been parked by the roadside after running out of fuel; the police investigation will establish the full circumstances. Most multiple-fatality road crashes worldwide involve speed, overloading, driver fatigue, poor road or vehicle condition, or impaired driving.

What is the emergency number in India?

Dial 112. From most GSM mobile phones, 112 also reaches local emergency services. Full list: emergency numbers for every country.

Follow this story

New reports appear on our live world map as they surface — it refreshes every 15 minutes from multiple sources. Today's reports from every country are on accidents today; each day's confirmed reports are archived in the daily digest, and India-specific updates land on the India page. To see how this country compares worldwide, check the global driving-risk rankings; the methodology page explains every estimate we publish.

*This is a developing story compiled from verified reporting; figures may change as official information is released.*

Source: www.telegraphindia.com — https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/five-killed-in-nh12-collision-as-poultry-pickup-van-rams-into-parked-truck-on-highway-near-raiganj-prnt/cid/2183989. Live tracking: our world map updates every 15 minutes.