At least 24 people were killed and 11 others injured when a container truck collided with a passenger bus in India’s northeastern state of Assam on Friday, police said. The crash occurred on a highway in Golaghat district, near Kaziranga National Park—a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its one-horned rhinos—about 225 km (140 miles) east of the state capital, Dispur. Several children and the bus driver were among the dead, officials said, while about 30 people were believed to have been on board the bus travelling to a neighbouring district.
Key Takeaways: At least 24 people died and 11 were injured in the Assam collision. Children and the bus driver are among the victims. Police warn the death toll may rise as rescue and medical efforts continue.
The accident has renewed attention on road safety in India, which has one of the world’s highest rates of traffic fatalities. Poorly maintained roads and vehicles, heavy truck traffic and long-distance bus journeys contribute to frequent crashes, especially on highways connecting rural and tourist areas. The location near Kaziranga underlines the route’s importance for local communities, visitors and freight operators, and it raises questions about safety oversight on a corridor that carries mixed traffic.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on X that he was “deeply distressed by the tragic accident.” In a statement, he added: “The scale of this loss has shaken all of us, and my heart goes out to every family that has lost a loved one. No words can ease their pain, but I want them to know that they are not alone. All of Assam stands with them in this hour of grief.” Sarma said local authorities were at the site and “personally overseeing the relief arrangements … to make sure the injured receive the best possible medical care without delay.” Swapnaneel Deka, superintendent of police of Golaghat district, told Reuters that “it is likely the death toll will increase.”
Authorities are expected to continue clearing the site, transporting the injured to hospitals and investigating the cause of the collision. No preliminary findings have been released, so it remains unclear whether vehicle condition, driver error, road design or other factors played a role. The next steps will likely include updated casualty figures, an official inquiry and renewed calls for stricter enforcement of traffic safety rules on Assam’s highways.
Source: www.aljazeera.com