GUWAHATI: A devastating road accident at Rongajan near Kaziranga in Assam’s Golaghat district has left the state in shock, after a passenger traveller collided head-on with a trailer on National Highway 37 on Friday afternoon.
The collision, which reportedly took place around 2.30 pm under the jurisdiction of Kohora Police Outpost, involved a traveller bearing registration number AS 02 AC 6690, travelling from Golaghat towards Nagaon, and a trailer bearing registration number KA 01 AT 0977, coming from Tezpur towards Bokakhat.
The impact was so severe that several passengers were trapped inside the damaged vehicles. According to information available at the time of reporting, the death toll had reached 25, while several others sustained serious injuries. Seven injured people were reported to be in critical condition.
Soon after the accident, local residents and police personnel began rescue operations. The injured were initially taken to Kohora Model Hospital for treatment.
Police teams, fire and emergency services personnel and local residents later worked together to rescue passengers trapped inside the vehicles and shift them to hospitals.
Fifteen injured people were reportedly referred to Bokakhat Civil Hospital and Jorhat Medical College and Hospital for advanced treatment.
Agriculture Minister Atul Bora visited the accident site and monitored the rescue and relief operations. Senior police and administrative officials also reached the spot.
The tragedy has become even more painful with reports that several young women, including school and college students, were among those killed.
Among the deceased identified so far are 20-year-old Deepanjali Rongpharpi, a student of C N B College from Rongbongbe in Karbi Anglong; 15-year-old Darpana Majhi, a Class IX student of PM Shri Kaziranga National Park High School; 19-year-old Jyoti Majhi from Kohora Amguri; and 20-year-old Farhana Yasmin from Bagori.
The deceased also include the traveller’s driver, Abdul Majid, and handyman Subhash Das, along with several residents of the Rongajan and Kaziranga areas.
Tea garden workers were also among the victims. However, the identities of all those killed have not yet been officially confirmed.
Questions Raised Over NH-37 Condition
The accident has once again brought the condition of National Highway 37 through Kaziranga into focus.
Local residents have expressed anger over the poor condition of the highway, alleging that despite regular toll collection, proper maintenance and repair work have not been carried out.
They say the condition of the road has made travel dangerous for local residents as well as tourists visiting Kaziranga National Park.
RaiJor Dal president and Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi also raised concerns over the condition of the highway stretch from Jakhalabandha to Numaligarh. He alleged that the road had become dangerous for commuters and urged the National Highways Authority of India and the Chief Minister to take immediate steps to repair and rebuild it.
Gogoi demanded compensation of at least Rs. 25 lakh for the family of each person killed in the accident.
Political Leaders Express Grief
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and extended condolences to the bereaved families. He said the state government and concerned authorities were taking steps to ensure proper medical treatment for the injured.
The Assam unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party also expressed grief over the tragedy. Party leader Kishor Upadhyay said Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had issued instructions to ensure the best possible medical care for those injured, while Atul Bora was monitoring rescue operations at the site.
AIUDF president and Binnakandi MLA Maulana Badruddin Ajmal also expressed condolences to the families of the victims.
RaiJor Dal paid tribute to those who lost their lives and called for immediate action to improve road safety.
Police Begin Investigation
Police have started an investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the head-on collision. The exact cause of the accident has not yet been established.
The tragedy has once again raised serious concerns over road safety, vehicle speed, highway maintenance and the need for stronger preventive measures to avoid such devastating accidents.
