Guwahati: In a tragic road accident, three young women lost their lives in the early hours of Sunday in Mathgharia. The accident took place around 3:50–4:00 AM near Gate Hospital.
The deceased have been identified as Akanksha Saikia (23), Pooja Saha (26), and Armina Ahmed alias Neha Khan. All three were living and working in Guwahati, away from their families.
According to police, the victims were travelling in a rented Maruti Swift (AS-01-GP-0562) towards Narengi when the car rammed into a stationary Tata 407 truck (AS-01-FC-4908) from behind. The impact was very severe, and the front part of the car was completely damaged.
Reports suggest the car was moving at high speed before the crash. CCTV footage and eyewitnesses also indicated that another vehicle was seen following the car just seconds after the accident.
The driver, identified as Shamim Ahmed, fled from the spot soon after the accident. Police said the airbags in the car likely saved him, but his act of escaping without helping the injured has raised serious concerns.
Rescue teams reached the spot quickly, but it was difficult to take out the victims as they were trapped inside the car. A JCB machine had to be used to cut open the vehicle. Two women died on the spot, while Pooja Saha died later at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital.
Sources also said that the driver had informed a friend about the accident over phone. There are also claims that he left Pooja at the hospital before escaping.
Akanksha Saikia was a resident of Sapekhati in Charaideo district and worked at Royal Global University after completing her post-graduation from Pandu College. She had spoken to her family around 11 PM on Saturday night.
Pooja Saha was from Krishnai in Goalpara district and also worked at the same institution. She was reportedly close to Akanksha. According to her roommate, both of them had left from their rented house in Jayanagar late at night.
Neha Khan, originally from Bongaigaon, was staying in a rented house in Narengi.
Police said the car was hired through a travel agency. Initial investigation suggests overspeeding as the main cause of the accident. Poor parking of heavy vehicles on roads at night is also being seen as a contributing factor.
The incident has left the families of the victims in deep shock and grief. Post-mortem of the bodies has been completed, and the process to hand over the bodies to families is underway.
Police have registered a case and launched a search operation to arrest the absconding driver.
The accident has once again raised serious concerns over road safety in Guwahati, especially at night. Experts say strict speed control, proper parking of heavy vehicles, and better monitoring are necessary to prevent such incidents.
Recent data shows that road accidents in Assam are increasing. In 2015, around 6,959 accidents were reported, which rose to 8,350 in 2019. In 2024, the number reached 12,572, the highest so far. While deaths slightly reduced to 2,760 in 2024, over 17,000 people were injured in road accidents.
The incident is a reminder of the need for more awareness, responsible driving, and stricter safety measures to avoid such tragedies in the future.
