GUWAHATI, NOVEMBER 13: The death toll in the devastating collision between a mini-bus and a container truck near Assam’s Kaziranga has risen to 23, with police revealing that the passenger vehicle had a history of traffic violations, including 12 challans worth ₹38,500 that had already been paid.
Another penalty of ₹4,000 remained outstanding, officials said on Friday, as preliminary investigations pointed to overspeeding and violation of traffic restrictions near the national park.
Golaghat Senior Superintendent of Police Swapnanil Deka said the Traveller mini-bus was moving at a very high speed before the collision. Investigators suspect that the driver lost control of the vehicle before it rammed into the container truck.
The accident occurred in the Kaziranga area on Thursday.
Police said the exact number of passengers travelling in the mini-bus was yet to be established. Further details about the injured and the identities of all victims were awaited.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives and announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would receive ₹50,000 each.
In a message posted by the Prime Minister’s Office on X, Modi conveyed condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also expressed grief over the tragedy, saying the loss of lives had shaken the entire state. He said the government’s immediate priority was to ensure the best possible medical treatment for those injured.
Cabinet Minister Atul Bora, who is also the local MLA, reached the accident site and was monitoring relief and rescue operations.
Bora said he came across the aftermath of the accident while returning from Guwahati and joined local residents in rushing the injured to hospitals.
Police are continuing their investigation to establish the circumstances leading to the collision.
