GUWAHATI: At least 32 people, including five women and 13 children, were killed and 13 others injured when a truck rammed head-on into two passenger-carrying vehicles on NH 31 at Doholapara, under Sorbhog police station in Western Assam’s Barpeta district in the wee hours on Thursday.
Police informed that a 10-wheeler truck, going from Guwahati to West Bengal, hit two minivans laden with brick kiln workers and their family members that were coming from the opposite direction from Dhubri to Rangiya at around 4.30 am.
According to eyewitnesses’ account, the truck was traveling along the wrong lane and smashed into the two vehicles that were coming one after another.
The passengers of the two vehicles were workers at brick kilns in Rangiya in Kamrup district and residents of Dhubri district in western Assam. The drivers of the two minivans were also killed. Twenty-eight people died on the spot, while one succumbed at the Barpeta Medical College and Hospital (BMCH). One died on way to the BMCH and two others died on way to Guwahati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) here.
Some of the injured are undergoing treatment at the BMCH and eight others have been referred to the GMCH for better treatment. The driver of the truck, who sustained minor injuries, was arrested by the police after providing first aid at the BMCH.
Governor JB Patnaik has expressed his condolences at the death of the victims of the accident and wished for speedy recovery of those injured.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who visited the BMCH to inquire into the health condition of the injured, directed the health authorities to provide the best of medical care and treatment. He also announced ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and suitable assistance to those who sustained grievous and minor injuries. Gogoi instituted a high-level probe into the tragic accident and directed the concerned authorities to strictly enforce speed limit, prevent rash driving, overload of passengers and goods and proper verification of driving license to avert such road mishaps in future.