Bengal home guard Bharti Murmu killed as truck rams police vehicle on NH-16
Synopsis
A female home guard escorting education officials on NH-16 in West Midnapore was killed when a truck lost control and struck the police vehicle from behind. The fatality has reignited local demands for urgent road repairs and better surveillance on the Nekurseni stretch — a corridor residents say is a serial accident blackspot.
Key Takeaways
Bharti Murmu , 35 , a female home guard, died on 3 October after a truck rammed a police vehicle on NH-16 at Nekurseni , West Midnapore .
The police vehicle was escorting education officials returning from submitting exam answer sheets at the Nekurseni post office .
A truck heading towards Belda allegedly lost control and struck the vehicle from behind; three others were seriously injured.
The injured were treated at Belda Super Speciality Hospital ; Murmu died during treatment.
SP Papiya Sultana confirmed the death and said the incident is under investigation.
Locals allege frequent accidents on the stretch and are demanding road repairs and improved surveillance.
A female home guard, Bharti Murmu, 35, died on Saturday, 3 October after a speeding truck rammed into a police vehicle on National Highway 16 at Nekurseni, under Dantan police station limits in West Midnapore district, West Bengal. Three other people sustained serious injuries in the collision on the Kharagpur-Baleshwar stretch of the highway.
How the Accident Unfolded
According to police, a group of education officials had been returning after depositing Higher Secondary semester examination answer sheets from Manoharpur High School at the Nekurseni post office. A police vehicle was escorting the officials when a truck, reportedly heading towards the Belda area, lost control and struck the police vehicle from behind.
The impact left four occupants of the police vehicle — including Murmu — with serious injuries. Officers from Belda police station reached the scene after being alerted and arranged for the injured to be shifted to hospital. Several of the injured were admitted to Belda Super Speciality Hospital, where Murmu later succumbed to her injuries.
What Authorities Said
West Midnapore Superintendent of Police Papiya Sultana confirmed the fatality, stating: 'The woman was on home guard duty after being deployed from the police line. She died in a road accident.' Sultana added that the Additional Superintendent of Police and the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) had been dispatched to the scene and that she herself was proceeding to the hospital. 'The incident is being investigated,' she said.
Local Concerns Over Road Safety
Residents of the Nekurseni area alleged that road accidents are a recurring problem on this stretch of NH-16. Locals claimed that a portion of the road is in poor condition and poses an ongoing risk to commuters. They urged the relevant authorities and the local panchayat to address the infrastructure issue urgently, noting that Saturday's fatal crash had deepened anxiety in the community.
Investigation Under Way
Police are currently examining the circumstances that led to the truck losing control. No arrests have been reported yet, and the exact condition of the remaining three injured individuals has not been officially disclosed. The incident underscores a pattern of highway accidents on this corridor — a stretch that locals say has long needed better surveillance and road maintenance.
Point of View
The question is why neither the highway authority nor the district administration has acted. Fatal crashes on national highways during official duty should trigger accountability beyond a police investigation: road condition audits, speed enforcement data, and a review of whether escort protocols expose personnel to avoidable risk deserve scrutiny. Murmu's death should not be absorbed into routine accident statistics.
NationPress
4 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Bharti Murmu and what happened to her?
Bharti Murmu, 35, was a female home guard deployed from the police line in West Midnapore, West Bengal. She died on 3 October after a truck lost control and struck the police vehicle she was travelling in on National Highway 16 near Nekurseni.
Where exactly did the NH-16 accident occur?
The accident occurred on the Kharagpur-Baleshwar stretch of National Highway 16 at Nekurseni, under Dantan police station limits in West Midnapore district, West Bengal.
Why was a police vehicle on NH-16 at that time?
The police vehicle was escorting education officials who were returning after depositing Higher Secondary semester examination answer sheets from Manoharpur High School at the Nekurseni post office.
How many people were injured in the accident?
Four people in total — including Bharti Murmu — sustained serious injuries. Three others survived and were admitted to Belda Super Speciality Hospital. Murmu later died during treatment.
What are locals demanding after the accident?
Residents allege that road accidents are frequent in the Nekurseni area and have urged authorities and the local panchayat to repair a damaged section of the road and improve surveillance to prevent further incidents.
