President's son helps accident victim

Burdwan: President Pranab Mukherjee's son and MP Abhijit Mukherjee today helped an accident victim in Burdwan district to reach hospital and later arranged for her quick shifting to another hospital, district officials said.

Sumita Paul, a middle aged woman, was pillion riding on her son Arghya's motorbike on the way from her Burdwan town home to a temple in Guskara when the two-wheeler hit a hump and she fell down at a place near Oregram.

She was not wearing any helmet, they said.

Paul was lying unconscious and blood was oozing out of her fractured skull. Her son was at a loss as the spot was almost deserted.

Mukherjee, the MP from Jangipur in Murshidabad district, was going along the road and found Paul and Arghya.

He took Paul to Guskara hospital in his car and, as her condition was serious, she was referred to Burdwan Medical College and Hospital, the officials said.

Mukherjee arranged for an ambulance and sent her to the referral hospital. He also rang up District Magistrate Soumitra Mohan and asked him to see that she gets proper treatment.

After knowing that Arghya was not carrying much cash, Mukherjee gave him some money before continuing his way to Bolpur where he was going to visit an ailing relative.

Mukherjee said, "I had done nothing special. It was the duty of a human being. Anyone else would have done the same."

Arghya was unable to find words to thank the Congress MP.

"If Abhijit babu was not there, I don't know what would have happened. One thing is certain that my mother's treatment would get delayed," he said.

His mother was later referred to a Kolkata hospital as her condition deteriorated.