Guwahati, Jan 3: In a horrific mishap, at least 12 passengers died when the bus they were travelling on collided with a coal-laden truck on national highway (NH)-37 at Balijan near Dergaon in Upper Assam’s Golaghat district early morning on Wednesday.
According to reports, 49 passengers, including several minors and women, were travelling from a village in the Kamarbandha area of Golaghat district towards a temple in Tinsukia district, en route to a picnic spot, around 4.30am when the mishap took place, reportedly amidst dense fog.
Over 30 passengers who sustained injuries in the accident were rushed to Dergaon Civil Hospital while those with critical injuries were referred to Jorhat Medical College and Hospital.
Speaking to mediapersons on Wednesday morning, Golaghat deputy commissioner P Uday Praveen said a total of 49 persons were travelling on the bus while 12 died in the mishap.
“We cannot say anything prima facie regarding the cause of the accident, but a team comprising police, magistrate, transport department and National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) is conducting an investigation,” Praveen said.
He further said that one side of the NH was under repair, and therefore, both the vehicles had to take the diversion and ply on one side of the road.
In a condolence message, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated: “Pained by the loss of lives due to a road mishap in Golaghat, Assam. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest. The local administration is providing all possible assistance to those affected. Ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000 (each).”
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also expressed deep anguish at the bus accident in Dergaon and offered his condolences to the bereaved families. “The local administration is providing all necessary support to the injured in this difficult hour. Prayers for their swift recovery,” the chief minister posted on his official ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) platform.
Later, speaking to reporters, Sarma said, “People should not start trips for picnics amid dense fog early in the morning. In dense fog, it is difficult to see the caution signs. Police have issued an SOP today in regard to regulation of picnic timings to ensure that only after fog subsides can picnickers start trips to their respective destinations.”
Meanwhile, Assam transport minister Parimal Suklabaidya informed that the special DG, Assam Police; IG, law and order; commissioner, transport department; state project director of Lead Agency on Road Safety and executive director of NHIDCL had rushed to the spot for inquiry and necessary assistance.