Pranab hurt in road mishap

Union External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee suffered a head injury when the car in which he was travelling from Murshidabad to Kolkata had a head-on collision with a truck at Nakashipara in Nadia district on Saturday evening.

Union External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee suffered a head injury when the car in which he was travelling from Murshidabad to Kolkata had a head-on collision with a truck at Nakashipara in Nadia district on Saturday evening.

Mukherjee was given stitches to his head at Bethuadahari Primary Hospital and his condition was stable, IGP (Law & Order) Raj Kanojia said on Saturday night. The injured minister would be shifted to Krishnanagar Sadar Hospital for observation, he said.

WBPCC General Secretary Manas Bhuniya, who was travelling with Mukherjee and another state leader Pradyot Guha, said the accident occurred when the truck skidded off the road after its tyre burst and collided with the car. Bhuniya, who was also injured in the mishap, said the driver and security guard of Mukherjee also suffered injury.

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State Home Secretary P R Roy said Mukherjee had 12 stitches in the head and was conscious.

“I have been informed that Mukherjee is being shifted from Bethuadahari to Krishnanagar Hospital,” he said. Roy said the minister’s condition was stable but “we are concerned about his health.” He said he had asked the Army to rush a team of doctors from the Command Hospital from here. A team of neurophysicians from the city were also being sent.