Assam announces Rs 9 lakh aid for families of 26 Kaziranga crash victims
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also announced Rs 2 lakh ex gratia for the families of the deceased.
The families of 26 people killed in a minibus and container truck collision near Kaziranga National Park will each receive Rs 9 lakh in ex gratia, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Saturday, according to India Today.
The head-on collision occurred on Friday on National Highway 715 at Rangajan in the Golaghat district. Many of the victims were college students travelling from Bokakhat to Nagaon.
The total compensation includes Rs 5 lakh from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, Rs 2 lakh from the State Disaster Management Authority, and Rs 2 lakh announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Prime Minister also announced Rs 50,000 for each injured person.
Chief Minister Sarma said ministers will hand over the money to the families at their homes once post-mortem examinations are complete and the bodies reach their residences. He stated he would personally visit the homes of every bereaved family over the next two to three days.
Assam minister and local MLA Atul Bora said the minibus appeared to be running at very high speed and violating restrictions imposed near the park before the driver lost control. A detailed investigation into the accident is currently underway.
The government is providing special medical care for the injured at Jorhat Medical College and Hospital and other facilities. Additional doctors have been sent from Guwahati to assist with medical care and post-mortem examinations.