At Least 23 Dead in Assam Minibus Collision

Guwahati: A high-speed collision between a passenger Traveller and a container truck near Rongajan in Assam killed at least 23 people on Friday. The crash occurred as the minibus, registration AS 02 AC 6690, moved from the direction of Bokakhat toward Nagaon. It slammed head-on into a container truck, registration KA 01 AT 0977, arriving from the direction of Guwahati. The impact was violent. The minibus was badly mangled.

Reports indicate the Traveller carried over 35 passengers, including students from Kaziranga High School. Driver Abdul Majid was behind the wheel. Local residents and police swarmed the wreckage to pull survivors from the debris. Several victims remained trapped inside the crushed frame as emergency crews worked the site. Survivors went to Kohora Model Hospital, though staff referred the critically injured to Jorhat Medical College and Hospital for intensive care.

Authorities checked the vehicle history after the disaster. The minibus had 12 paid traffic challans totaling Rs 38,500. One additional fine for overspeeding, worth Rs 4,000, remains unpaid. Officials have yet to clarify the exact sequence of events that triggered the impact. An investigation is now underway to determine the cause. The local administration continues to manage the recovery effort as the region reels from the loss. "The exact number of casualties and the condition of the injured passengers are yet to be officially established," local reports noted.