Sikkimese football fan killed, 29 injured in Kokaley crash

GANGTOK, August 7, 2013

A 13-year old boy was killed and around 29 persons including footballers sustained injuries in a pickup crash near Kokaley under Tumin-Lingee constituency in East Sikkim on Aug 4 afternoon.

The incident took place at around 5:15 p.m. when the vehicle returning from a football match at Makha, 19 kms away from Singtam town. The vehicle was boarded by some 30 persons of Kokaley including the players and villagers.

The Kokaley team had won its pre-quarterfinal match of a 7-a-side football tournament organized at Makha. The supporters and players then boarded the pickup also from Kokaley to return back to their village, some 3 kms away from Makha.

When the vehicle was about to reach Kokaley, it slipped some 20 feet down the road.

Sujan Bhattarai (13) was killed in the incident. He was a Class VII student of Chandey.

Fifteen more passengers sustained serious injuries and have been referred to STNM hospital for further treatment. Others are being treated at the district hospital in Singtam.

Singtam police hasregistered a case of rash driving against the driver who is presently absconding. The driver is also from Kokaley village.

(Courtesy: Sikkim Express)