23 killed, 7 injured as truck rams minibus near Kaziranga in India's Assam
At least 23 people have been killed in a collision between a truck and a minibus near Kaziranga in India's Assam state. Seven others were injured, and as many of the injured are in critical condition, the death toll is feared to rise further.
The accident happened in the Rongrajan area near Kaziranga when a truck rammed into the minibus travelling from Bokakhat to Nagaon. The bus was mangled in the collision.
An executive magistrate of Assam's Golaghat district told the PTI news agency that the death toll was rising quickly. According to the latest information, doctors have confirmed 23 deaths in the accident, he said, adding that efforts were under way to identify the dead.
Several passengers were trapped inside the bus after the crash. Police and local people rushed to the scene and began rescue work, pulling the trapped passengers out.
Golaghat's senior superintendent of police, Swapnanil Deka, said they had received a preliminary report putting the deaths at at least seven. Present at the scene, he said bodies were being recovered from the bus and the toll could rise further.
The injured were sent to the local Kohra Model Hospital for treatment. Several of them are believed to be in critical condition.
On the cause of the accident, Deka said the bus was travelling at high speed and had violated the speed limit set for the area around the park. Police believe the minibus driver lost control, the vehicle hit the container truck, and the accident followed.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed deep shock at the accident. He said he was deeply saddened by the tragic accident at Kaziranga in the morning and that the loss of life had shaken everyone. Offering condolences to the families who lost loved ones, he said no words could lessen their pain, but they should know they are not alone — the whole of Assam stands with them in this time of grief.
The chief minister added that the main priority now is to ensure the injured receive the best treatment quickly. He wished the injured a speedy recovery and again conveyed his sympathy to the bereaved families.
