Kaziranga accident: 24 feared dead, 7 injured as truck collides with passenger mini-bus in Assam
New Delhi: At least 24 people are feared dead after a truck collided head-on with a passenger Traveller vehicle in Rongajan, Kaziranga, Assam. Most of those travelling in the mini-bus were reportedly students. Rescue operations are underway, with teams working to retrieve passengers from the badly damaged vehicle.
The Traveller was travelling from Bokakhat towards Nagaon when the accident took place. The deadly accident occurred around 2:35-2:40 noon at Rongajan under Kahara PS in Golaghat district. The impact of the collision left the vehicle severely mangled with several passengers feared trapped inside.
The local residents and police personnel joined the rescue operation soon after the accident. The injured were initially taken to Kohora Model Hospital for treatment while those in critical condition were referred to Jorhat Medical College and Hospital.
23 feared dead, rescue operations underway
Golaghat Senior Superintendent of Police Swapnaneel Deka said the initial information indicated that at least 20 people had died, adding that the toll could rise as rescue teams continued retrieving bodies from the vehicle.
“We have got a preliminary report that at least 20 people feared dead in the accident. We are all at the spot, and bodies are being retrieved from the bus, so the number of deaths is likely to rise,” Deka said.
The latest information has put the number of people feared dead at 23. However, the final casualty figure is yet to be officially confirmed. The details of the vehicle’s traffic challans have also emerged. The Traveller reportedly had 12 challans that were paid, amounting to Rs 38,500 while another challan of Rs 4,000 remains outstanding. The Rs 4,000 penalty is reportedly the applicable fine for overspeeding by a commercial vehicle in Assam.
Minister reaches accident site
Assam Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Atul Bora, who is also the local MLA reached the accident site and supervised the relief and rescue work. Speaking about the possible cause of the collision, Deka said the minibus may have been travelling at high speed and violating restrictions near the national park.
“The bus was running at very high speed, violating restrictions imposed near the park. We think that the accident took place when the driver of the minibus lost control, and the vehicle collided with the container truck,” he added.
Rescue and relief operations are continuing at the site as authorities work to establish the exact number of casualties and identify those involved in the accident.