Source NDTV
KAZIRANGA, Assam — At least 26 people were killed and several others sustained severe injuries early this morning following a devastating head-on collision between a passenger bus and a speeding truck along the national highway near Kaziranga in Assam.
According to local police and emergency officials, the accident occurred on a stretch of National Highway 37 bordering the Kaziranga National Park. Preliminary reports indicate that the passenger bus, which was carrying dozens of commuters, collided violently with a heavy goods truck traveling from the opposite direction. The impact of the crash left the front sections of both vehicles completely mangled, trapping numerous passengers inside the wreckage.
Local residents were the first to arrive at the scene, assisting emergency responders and police personnel in pulling victims from the twisted metal. Rescue operations continued for several hours as heavy machinery was brought in to separate the vehicles.
“Twenty-six passengers have been confirmed dead, with many losing their lives on the spot due to the severity of the impact,” a senior district police official stated. “The injured have been rushed to nearby medical facilities, including the Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, where several remain in critical condition.”
Authorities have temporarily diverted traffic along the highway to clear the debris and facilitate ongoing rescue efforts. While poor visibility and overspeeding are suspected to have played a role in the tragedy, senior transport and police officials have launched a formal investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash.
State leaders have expressed their deep condolences to the bereaved families and assured all necessary medical assistance for the survivors.
