In a heartbreaking incident, a fatal road accident occurred on the national highway at Balijan near Negheriting in Dergaon, Golaghat district on Wednesday morning. The accident involved a head-on collision between a passenger bus, en route to a picnic, and a truck. Reports indicate that 12 people, including several children, lost their lives in the tragic accident.
The deceased persons are as follows – Anima Saikia (60), Subhankar Saikia (13), Niharika Saikia (10), Dipali Saikia (37), Nabajit Saikia (40), Pinki Saikia (48), Rinki Bora (18), Bus driver Mridul Bora (30), Nityananda Bora (48), Principriya Bora (7), Someshwer Bora (43), and Truck Drive Noor Alam Haque.
The passengers were part of a group of around 45 individuals who were on a picnic from Bacha Bharluva village near The Athkheliya Namghar in Golaghat. The group, traveling in a bus with registration number AS02 AC5083, was headed to The Tilinga Temple in Tinsukia. The accident occurred in dense fog, and the truck involved was reportedly coming from Margherita.
The collision resulted in significant casualties, with both bus passengers and the truck driver reported dead. Several others sustained injuries, with some in critical condition, and have been admitted to hospitals.
Local residents have raised concerns about the slow progress of the national highway construction, alleging that such tragic incidents are a consequence of the delays in the ongoing construction work. Despite the establishment of a toll gate by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in the vicinity, locals express dissatisfaction with the pace of the construction, asserting that accidents have become frequent on the under-construction highway.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, condoled the loss of lives due to a tragic road mishap in Golaghat, Assam. He announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs. 50,000 to the injured. The Prime Minister’s Office posted on X:
Taking to X, CM Himanta Biswa Sharma also expressed his deep anguish. He stated –