The Assam government has announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹5 lakh for the families of each of the seven people killed in the Khetri road accident, while assuring free treatment for those injured at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made the announcements during his visit to the accident site at Khetri on Monday, hours after the fatal crash on National Highway 27.
Sarma described the incident as a “heartbreaking and tragic road accident” and said local residents had attributed the crash to potholes and poor maintenance of the national highway. He added that the police investigation had also identified the condition of the road as a cause of the accident.
Assam Police has registered a case to investigate the circumstances leading to the crash. Sarma said legal action would be taken against anyone found responsible.
The Chief Minister said financial assistance could not bring back the lives lost in the accident but expressed condolences to the affected families and stressed the need to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Sarma also said the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) generally awards contracts for the maintenance of national highways, but alleged that the contractor concerned had failed to fulfil its responsibilities. He said the state government had spoken to the NHAI chairman, who assured that the damaged road stretch would be repaired soon.
According to Sarma, Chief Secretary Ravi Kota is in constant touch with the NHAI chairman over the issue. He said the matter would be investigated and action would be taken against officials or contractors if they were found responsible.
The Chief Minister also said the state police had initiated a separate investigation and that further action would depend on its findings.
On demands for a reduction or exemption of toll charges on the damaged highway stretch, Sarma said the accident should not be directly linked to toll collection. He pointed to ongoing expansion work in several areas, including elevated corridors, tunnels and the Mission Chariali-Baihata Chariali expansion.
Meanwhile, the Khetri crash triggered protests at several locations across Assam, with residents and organisations targeting the NHAI over the condition of national highways.
At the Nazirakhat Toll Plaza in Sonapur, local residents and members of various organisations forced the suspension of toll collection, demanding that it remain closed until the damaged NH-27 stretch between Khanapara and Jagiroad is repaired.
In Raha, members of AASU, ATSU, AJYCP and Manab Adhikar Sangram Samiti, along with local residents and students, blocked NH-27 at Dewaguri Chariali for around 15 minutes. The protesters demanded the completion and repair of service lanes and proper drainage along the highway. The blockade was later lifted after Nagaon Deputy Commissioner Debashish Sharma assured them that their demands would be taken up with the authorities.
In Jorhat, the Assam Nationalist Youth Students’ Council (AJYSC) district committee burnt an effigy of the NHAI at Mitha Pukhuri. The organisation alleged negligence in maintaining prescribed standards for national highway construction and demanded accountability for the deaths in the Khetri accident.
