At least 23 killed in minibus and truck collision near Kaziranga
Several college students are among the dead following a head-on collision on National Highway-715 in Assam.
A minibus and a container truck collided near Kaziranga National Park in Assam on Friday, resulting in at least 23 deaths and 20 injuries, according to reports from Mint and The New Indian Express. The accident occurred at Rangajan, near the Hathikuli Tea Estate in the Kohora range on National Highway-715.
The minibus was travelling from Golaghat to Nagaon when it struck the container truck, which was heading towards Upper Assam. A senior official stated that the minibus was travelling at a high speed and violated restrictions near the park, suggesting the driver lost control before the collision.
The deceased include several college students, women, and children. An Executive Magistrate of Golaghat district noted that the identities of the victims are currently being ascertained, while a senior doctor at Kohora Model Hospital reported that the death toll had reached 26.
Assam Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Atul Bora oversaw the rescue operations at the site. The injured were moved to Kohora Model Hospital, with many critical patients referred to Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, as well as civil hospitals in Bokakhat and Golaghat.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed his distress on social media, stating that the scale of the loss has shaken the state. He said his priority is ensuring the injured receive the best medical care.
Postmortems are scheduled to take place at Swahid Kushal Konwar Civil Hospital in Golaghat on Saturday.