12 killed in bus-truck collision in Assam

At least 12 people, including three children, were killed and 38 others suffered injuries in a head-on collision between a coal-laden truck and a bus in Golaghat district of Assam on Wednesday, officials said.

The accident took place at Balijan near Dergaon on National Highway-715 when the bus with 49 people on board collided with the goods vehicle, Golaghat District Commissioner P Uday Praveen told PTI.

“Out of the 12 people who died, six were women. All of them were from Basa Bharaluwa village,” he said.

A total of 31 people are undergoing treatment at Jorhat Medical College and Hospital (JMCH), while seven others with minor injuries have been admitted to Dergaon Community Health Centre, Praveen said.

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives in the accident, and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

“The news of the death of many people in a road accident in Golaghat, Assam is extremely sad. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured,” Murmu said in a post in Hindi on X.

Modi announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased, and Rs 50,000 each for the injured. “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,” the Prime Minister’s Office said on X.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Transport Minister Parimal Suklabaidya also expressed deep anguish over the incident.