Investigation Launched into Fatal Kaziranga Road Accident
NHAI Officials to Investigate Kaziranga Collision
People at the site after a head-on collision between a traveller and a container truck, on Friday. (Photo:PTI)
Guwahati, Nov 14: Officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) are set to arrive from Delhi and Pune to investigate the circumstances surrounding a tragic road accident in Kaziranga, as confirmed by Assam's Transport Minister Charan Boro on Saturday.
During his visit to the accident scene earlier in the day, Boro stated that the teams would look into the factors that led to the incident.
“NHAI representatives are coming from Delhi, and a team from Pune is also expected to assist in the investigation,” he mentioned.
He noted that officials from the Transport department had inspected the vehicle involved and confirmed the presence of a Speed Limiting Device (SLD).
“However, we will only determine its functionality after a thorough technical assessment,” he added.
The minister also disclosed that the driver of the vehicle had faced penalties for speeding on two previous occasions, both of which were settled. However, another fine for driving at 102 km/h in Jorhat remains unpaid, along with an additional speeding violation discovered during the review.
Boro emphasized that merely imposing fines would not suffice to avert such incidents.
“It is essential for the public, government, and administration to collaborate to enhance road safety,” he asserted.
He highlighted the state government's commitment to enforcement, noting that monthly enforcement figures in Assam had surged from approximately 35,000 to 135,000 last month, with a target of reaching 150,000.
“The government is also working on installing traffic surveillance cameras throughout Assam to bolster monitoring and enforcement of road safety laws,” he added.
In related news, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma acknowledged the rising trend of road accidents in the state and called for more stringent enforcement of traffic laws.
“The number of road accidents has escalated over the last two years, with numerous violations concerning speed limits and road safety. It is crucial to enforce traffic regulations rigorously to prevent such incidents,” Sarma stated during his visit to the Kaziranga accident site on Saturday.