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This was my first ever Highway Journey and it came out to be of the extreme kind with two nights without sleep  (Sat & Sun nights).

Back in 2006, in Kolkata it was a lazy Saturday Winter Afternoon and I decided to make a night trip it to Gopalpur at Sea, some 630 Kms from Kolkata Overnight and Non Stop. Wifey agreed instantly and I picked her up directly from her Park Street office in the evening and immediately we started off.

• Route: KOL-BBSR-GOPALPUR-BBSR-KOLKATA
• Pax: ME+WIFE
• Start: Kolkata @ 1930 Hours Saturday
• Accident: NH60 @ 2300 Hours Saturday
• Recovered from Accident @ 2330 Hours Saturday
• Reached: BBSR @ 0330 Hours Sunday
• Reached: GOPALPUR @ 0830 Hours Sunday
• Reached: BBSR @ 1200 Hours Sunday
• Left for Kolkata @ 1600 Hours Sunday
• Reached Kolaghat @ 0700 Hours Monday
• Joined office (directly) at Kolkata @ 1000 Hours Monday

The Accident on NH60 near Jaleshwar:

A couple of hours into the journey and the full night came on us. We were doing a constant 100kmph on NH60 and I suddenly realised that we found ourselves to be the only ones on the road. Then suddenly we noticed a huge mud hill in front blocking the Highway. I braked timely and the car skidded straight on, rose up and bellied on the top of the mud mound with a heavy noise.

Just seconds ago we were hearing the cruise-hum and in a split moment we were enveloped by a forced silence. The Engine had stalled and the headlights were still ON. We were initially too shocked to even got our of the car, wondering if we were about to topple off into some river beyond, perhaps. I switched off the headlights and suddenly we realized it was pitch dark. I had not seen a darker night ever in my life. The stars were looking like the diamond on my wife’s nosepin.

Finally we gathered courage and found out that there was no river after that, but just the road in continuum. The Car’s front driving wheels were suspended, hence was out of the traction. Bare human power was no match for its weight to be able to be brought down from its present state .

Luckily we saw a bus approaching out of nowhere. We waved it to a halt and  the driver took out a rope and winched the car down. I gladly paid them INR 500 and they navigated us to the detour road, as this was a blockade by NHAI for an unfinished stretch. Such was our undying spirit that even after all this, both of us decided to continue the journey. Nothing eventually happened to the car due to the engine guard.

Distance and Sleep

Total Kms covered in 36 Hours outside home: 1300 Kms. (Just imagine, we did not have Saturdays off those days and had to start off Saturday itself and join office on Monday).

View Larger Map

The photos were taken by Nokia 3230. The Car – Opel Astra which normally returns 5-7 kmpl in the city gave overall 16kmpl Mileage in this trip.