A 42-year-old woman died in a tragic accident in Kolkata when the car she was driving fell into a pond while she was preparing for her driving licence exam. In the Prafulla Kanan (West) area of Kestopur on Wednesday, residents were shocked.
The deceased was Sumitra Das. Das, according to reports, had been preparing for her driving licence test, which was set for August 22. She had recently purchased a Hyundai Eon and had gone out to practise driving before the test.
Das returned home after dropping her daughter at school on a scooter. She parked the two-wheeler and took the car out for driving practice.
During the practice session, the vehicle lost control and plunged into a nearby pond. The car was completely submerged in the water, and emergency rescue was launched by police and fire department personnel.
Neighbors and others notified authorities after seeing the incident. Rescue teams got out to the scene and started working to locate and retrieve the car. The operation continued for over an hour as rescue personnel tried to pull the submerged car out of the pond.
Das was finally found inside the vehicle. But she could not be saved. Her body was recovered and sent to a government hospital for a post-mortem examination as part of the investigation.
Police are still determining how the accident happened. Initial suspicion is that Das, who was still learning to drive, may have accidentally pressed the accelerator rather than the brake. The sudden acceleration could have put the car in the water and eventually sank it.
The exact circumstances behind the incident are being investigated, and the condition and position of the vehicle are also being examined.
The place where Das was found inside the car has also attracted attention. Her face was towards the rear hatch of the car, and her legs were near the steering wheel, according to the witness. That has led investigators to wonder if she attempted to move towards the rear of the car or escape after the vehicle was submerged.
The accident shows some of the risks that inexperienced drivers face when they practise without supervision or when they are near water bodies. For learners in an emergency, sudden panic on the accelerator and brake pedals may lead to very serious consequences.
Authorities have not yet determined the full sequence of events, and the conclusion can be drawn only after the investigation and the post-mortem examination.
The heartbreaking death of Sumitra Das has impacted the family and community very much. The preparation for a driving test and how it will be in a safe environment is the best way for a person to prepare for it.
Police will be able to determine exactly how the Hyundai Eon entered the pond and if any other factors played a role in the accident.
