Prime Minister Modi Announces Relief for Kaziranga Road Accident Victims
Tragic Road Accident in Kaziranga Claims Lives
The injured being taken to Jorhat Medical College and Hospital (AT Image)
Guwahati, Nov 13: On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the families of each individual who lost their lives in the tragic road accident in Kaziranga. Those injured in the incident will receive Rs 50,000 each.
Modi expressed his sorrow over the incident that occurred in Golaghat district, offering condolences to the families affected and wishing for a swift recovery for the injured.
The fatal accident in Kaziranga has resulted in 24 fatalities, with numerous others injured after a passenger vehicle collided head-on with a container truck.
Among the deceased, 16 bodies are currently at Kohora Model Hospital, while seven are at Bokakhat Hospital. Additionally, 12 injured individuals have been admitted to Jorhat Medical College and Hospital (JMCH), with six reported to be in critical condition. The injured include individuals aged between 17 and 42 years.
Survivors' accounts suggest that excessive speed may have contributed to the accident, with the passenger vehicle reportedly veering into oncoming traffic.
One survivor mentioned that there were approximately 60 passengers on board, including around 35 school students. The vehicle was allegedly traveling at speeds of 80-90 km/h when it crossed into the wrong lane and collided with the truck.
"I suffered injuries to my hands, legs, and chest. The person next to me did not survive. We were traveling from Jagiroad to Samaguri, and three of my companions died while two survived," the survivor recounted.
Another survivor, who was asleep during the crash, estimated the vehicle's speed at 70-80 km/h and noted that several passengers were standing inside the vehicle.
A passenger in the container truck claimed that the passenger vehicle approached the truck directly before the collision, suggesting that the driver might have fallen asleep. He was traveling from Tezpur to Dibrugarh and sustained injuries.
The accident has left many families in mourning. The son of the passenger vehicle's conductor shared that he learned about the accident around 3 PM, expressing his grief over the loss.
Education Minister Ranoj Pegu, who was instructed to visit the accident site, emphasized the government's commitment to ensuring proper medical care for the injured. He reported that six patients were in critical condition, while others were expected to recover.
"This tragic incident has claimed many lives. Our immediate focus is on providing the best medical treatment to those in hospitals," he stated.
Pegu also mentioned that arrangements were being made to return the bodies to their families as soon as possible, with post-mortem examinations scheduled for Friday.
Regarding road safety, he assured that any maintenance lapses would be thoroughly investigated.
Minister Atul Bora, who arrived at the scene shortly after the accident, confirmed that several injured passengers were sent to Jorhat for treatment.
"I reached the site soon after the incident. Many were injured, and some were referred to Jorhat. The district administration and I are monitoring the situation at the hospital. Initial reports indicate that both vehicles were traveling at high speeds, and most passengers were young," Bora noted.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is set to visit Golaghat district on Saturday morning to meet with the affected families and assess the situation.
“I have instructed the authorities to ensure that the injured receive prompt and quality medical care. The government will provide all necessary support to the affected families,” Sarma affirmed.