Tragic Road Accidents Claim Lives of Six in Assam
Fatal Collisions in Tinsukia and Nagaon
The DI vehicle and the motorcycle caught fire following the collision in Doomdooma
Doomdooma/Nagaon, Oct 25: A series of road accidents in Assam's Tinsukia and Nagaon districts resulted in the deaths of six individuals, including a school principal, on Saturday.
In Doomdooma, a speeding vehicle transporting green tea leaves struck pedestrians and collided with both a motorcycle and an SUV on the Samdang bypass, leading to four fatalities.
Reports indicate that the incident occurred near Samdang New Line under the jurisdiction of Doomdooma police station when a DI vehicle (AS 23 DC 5936), allegedly speeding, hit two pedestrians before crashing into the motorcycle and SUV.
Following the collision, both the DI vehicle and the motorcycle caught fire, with witnesses noting that flames quickly engulfed the vehicles.
The driver of the DI vehicle perished in the blaze, while the motorcycle rider and one pedestrian died instantly. A second pedestrian, who suffered severe injuries, later succumbed while being transported to the hospital.
The deceased have been identified as Pintu Tanti, Subrata Bhakta, and Ganesh Praja, while the identity of the DI vehicle's driver remains unknown at this time.
Firefighters arrived promptly to extinguish the flames, and the injured were rushed to medical facilities. The total number of injured individuals has not yet been confirmed.
Principal Dies in Nagaon Incident
In a separate incident, Pradip Kumar Debnath, the acting principal of Dhing Khargeswar Bora Higher Secondary School, was killed instantly in a head-on collision involving an e-rickshaw and a fish-carrying van near Ganga Dhaba at Garoimari on the Nagaon-Dhing road around 8:30 am. Three other passengers sustained injuries in this accident.
Debnath, who resided in Chamuagaon village in Dhing, was commuting from Nagaon to Dhing in an e-rickshaw when the crash occurred. Reports suggest that the fish-carrying van, coming from the opposite direction, collided head-on with the e-rickshaw.
The impact was devastating, resulting in Debnath's immediate death and injuring three other passengers in the e-rickshaw. Both drivers reportedly fled the scene post-collision.
Local residents claimed that the fish-carrying van was speeding when it struck the e-rickshaw.
Upon receiving the report, police from Batadraba and Juria stations arrived, retrieved the body, and sent it to Nagaon Medical College Hospital for an autopsy. Both vehicles were confiscated, and an investigation has commenced.
Debnath was set to retire on March 30 of the following year. His unexpected passing has brought sorrow to Dhing, with various educational, social, literary, and political organizations expressing their condolences.
Among those mourning were Dhing Khargeswar Bora Higher Secondary School, the Nagaon District Employees Council, Dhing Branch Sahitya Sabha, Dhing Anchalik Students’ Union, and the Dhing Press Club. Dhing MLA Mehboob Muktar, former minister Gautam Bora, and numerous other organizations and individuals have also expressed their grief.
Debnath is survived by his wife, daughter, and other family members.
Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has recently voiced concerns regarding the increasing number of road accidents in the state, attributing them to accident-prone areas, ongoing road renovations, and unsafe driving habits.
“The frequency of accidents is alarming, and we are deeply concerned. While some areas have seen improvements, others remain problematic, particularly where road work is underway. We are actively working to address these hazardous locations,” Sarma stated to reporters.
The Chief Minister also emphasized the importance of enhancing road safety awareness.