Kolkata: A 42-year-old corporate executive, who was learning to drive a newly purchased car, died after the vehicle plunged into a pond in Kestopur on Wednesday morning. Cops suspect that she had possibly pressed the accelerator instead of the car brake while trying to take the vehicle out of a garage for practise.The deceased, Sumitra Das, was trapped inside the car after it sank in the 10-12ft-deep pond near Prafulla Kanan West off VIP Road. Locals dived in the pond to rescue her but failed following which cops and fire brigade were called who could finally lift the car out of the water more than one-and-half-hours after the incident.By the time the car could be pulled up and the gate was opened, the woman had died. It seemed in a desperate attempt to get out of the vehicle she had tried to come to the backseat and break open the windshield and windows but had failed. Her body was found face sunk in the backseat while her legs were still on the driver’s seat.The incident occurred around 7.45am. Family members said Das had taken her daughter to the bus stop and returned home. She then went to the garage to take out the family’s two-month-old car. The garage, located around 100 metres from their residence, has a banquet facility and a parking area next to the water body.According to witnesses, while Das was attempting to drive the vehicle towards the road, it suddenly moved forward and plunged into the pond opposite the garage. Hearing the commotion, several local residents rushed to the spot. Some even jumped into the pond in an attempt to rescue her, but were unable to reach her inside the submerged vehicle.The car’s central locking system had apparently engaged after the vehicle fell into the water, making it difficult for Das to get out, cops suspect.“The car suddenly moved forward and went straight into the pond. She was learning to drive, so it is possible that she pressed the accelerator instead of the brake,” said neighbour Sujan Sen, who was present when the vehicle was retrieved.Another neighbour, Deepak Dutta, said residents had often seen Das learning to drive the new car. “Earlier, the family would usually hire a driver or have someone else drive. On Wednesday, however she herself tried to take the car out when the accident happened,” he said.Das lived with her husband Krishnendu Das, who runs a business, and their daughter in a flat on the third floor of a G+4 building in Prafulla Kanan. The family had purchased the car around two months ago.Police said Das was preparing to obtain her driving licence and was scheduled to appear for the driving test on Aug 22. She had reportedly been practising driving the car in preparation for the test.Her sudden death left her family and neighbours shocked. Police sent Das’s body for post-mortem and have started an investigation into the circumstances leading to the accident.
