Guwahati: Fresh details have emerged in the investigation into the fatal road accident in Mathgharia, indicating that alcohol consumption, long hours at a bar, and overspeeding were key factors behind the incident. Police suspect that the driver was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.
The accused driver, Shamim Ahmed, who was earlier arrested from Dibrugarh, was brought to Guwahati and produced before the court. He has been sent to four days of police custody for further interrogation.
Addressing the media, Guwahati Traffic DCP Jayanta Sarathi Bora revealed key findings of the investigation. According to police, the vehicle was first spotted around 11 pm in the Bhangagarh area and later reached Rudraksh Mall. From around 11 pm to 3 am, the accused and the three women stayed at a rooftop bar inside the mall.
Police said that a bill of around Rs 19,000 was generated at the bar that night. CCTV footage and billing records have already been collected as part of the investigation.
After leaving the bar around 3 am, the group drove across different parts of the city, including GS Road, RG Baruah Road and Mother Teresa Road. GPS data shows that the vehicle was being driven at a very high speed, reaching up to 135 km per hour.
The accident took place at around 4:02 am in Mathgharia. At the time of the crash, the vehicle was moving at around 96 km per hour. The impact was severe, leading to the death of three young women on the spot.
After the accident, Shamim fled the scene. Police said he tried to escape towards Shillong and Sivasagar. However, he was later arrested near Dibrugarh after a search operation.
Police also revealed that after fleeing, the accused cut his hair and beard to avoid identification. He first went to Shillong, where he changed his appearance, and then moved towards Dibrugarh, possibly planning to escape further to Arunachal Pradesh.
Meanwhile, another important factor under investigation is the illegal parking of a truck on the roadside. Police have already arrested the truck driver and said that improper parking may have also contributed to the accident.
Investigators are also checking whether the vehicle, though privately registered, was being used for commercial purposes. The travel agency linked to the vehicle was reportedly inactive for the past three years, raising further questions.
Police said that multiple factors — alcohol consumption, overspeeding, late-night driving and roadside parking — together led to the tragic accident. Further investigation is underway, and strict legal action will be taken based on the findings.
