Assam announces Rs 9 lakh ex gratia for Kaziranga accident victims
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma promised compensation for the families of 26 people killed in a minibus-truck collision.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Saturday that the next of kin of each person killed in the Kaziranga minibus-truck collision will receive Rs 9 lakh in ex gratia. The head-on collision occurred on Friday on National Highway-715 at Rangajan near Kaziranga National Park, according to reports from Deccan Herald and The New Indian Express.
The total compensation for each deceased person consists of Rs 5 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, Rs 2 lakh from the State Disaster Management Authority, and Rs 2 lakh from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At least 26 people died in the accident, many of whom were college students returning from classes, The Economic Times reported.
Sarma, who visited the accident site, stated that ministers will deliver the funds to families at their homes once post-mortem examinations are complete. He also said he intends to personally visit the homes of the bereaved families within the next two to three days.
The Chief Minister noted that some traffic restrictions had been relaxed during a Nalbari Cabinet meeting due to political pressure, admitting that such relaxations should not have been allowed. He directed the police and district administration to increase road safety enforcement to prevent future tragedies.
A detailed investigation into the cause of the crash is currently underway. Meanwhile, injured passengers are receiving medical care at Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, Bokakhat Civil Hospital, and Kohora Model Hospital.