At least 23 killed in Assam bus-truck collision near Kaziranga
Twenty people were injured after a minibus and a container truck collided on National Highway 715 in Golaghat district.
At least 23 people were killed and 20 others were injured after a minibus collided with a container truck near Kaziranga National Park in Assam on Friday, according to reports from Scroll and The Federal.
The accident occurred at Rangajan near Hathikuli Tea Estate in the Kohora range on National Highway 715. The minibus was travelling from Jorhat to Nagaon, while the container truck was heading towards Upper Assam, a senior police officer said.
Golaghat Senior Superintendent of Police Swapnaneel Deka told PTI that the minibus was allegedly running at a very high speed, violating restrictions imposed near the national park. An official stated that the driver may have lost control of the vehicle.
An Executive Magistrate of Golaghat district said the identities of the deceased, which include two women, are being ascertained. Some of the victims were reportedly college students returning from classes.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said he was deeply distressed by the accident and stated that the government would provide the best possible medical care to the injured. Minister Atul Bora was at the site to oversee relief and rescue operations.
The injured were taken to Kohora Model Hospital, with critically injured persons referred to hospitals in Bokakhat, Golaghat, and Jorhat Medical College and Hospital. A district administration official said an investigation will be conducted to determine if traffic norms were violated.