Tragedy at Karunamoyee: 4-Year-Old Boy Critically Injured in Kolkata Car Accident

In a heart-wrenching incident that has shaken Kolkata, a four-year-old boy sustained a severe leg injury after being struck by a car at the busy Karunamoyee junction in Salt Lake on Monday afternoon. The child, who was crossing the road with his family, is now battling the possibility of a leg amputation, doctors said.

Eyewitnesses reported that the vehicle, a silver sedan, was speeding through the intersection when it failed to brake in time. Despite heavy traffic in the area and the presence of traffic signals, the driver appeared to be in a rush. The car hit the boy, throwing him several feet. Onlookers immediately rushed to his aid while others managed to stop the car and detain the driver until police arrived.

The boy was quickly transported to the Salt Lake Sub-Divisional Hospital before being referred to a private facility in central Kolkata for urgent surgery. Medical authorities say he suffered multiple fractures and extensive soft tissue damage to his right leg. “We are doing everything we can to save the limb, but the injury is extremely critical,” a senior orthopedic surgeon stated.

The driver, a man in his late thirties, has been taken into custody by Bidhannagar Police. Preliminary investigations suggest rash and negligent driving, and a case has been registered under relevant sections. Police are also verifying whether the vehicle had valid documents and whether the driver was under any influence.

Residents and local associations in the area have expressed anger and concern over the safety of pedestrians, especially children, at Karunamoyee—one of the busiest intersections in the city. This tragic accident has reignited debates about traffic management in the city and pedestrian safety. Citizens are demanding stricter enforcement of speed limits, better traffic signal timing, and more visible pedestrian crossings. Many are also urging authorities to install CCTV surveillance and deploy more traffic personnel at high-risk intersections like Karunamoyee.

As the boy’s family waits in anguish at the hospital, Kolkata is left grappling with the sobering consequences of urban negligence and the urgent need to prioritize safety over speed.