KAZIRANGA: The death toll in the head-on collision between a minibus and a container truck near Kaziranga National Park in Assam has risen to 26, with at least 20 others injured, officials said.
The accident occurred on Friday at Rangajan near Hathikuli Tea Estate in the Kohora range of Golaghat district, along National Highway 715. The minibus, travelling from Golaghat towards Nagaon, collided with the container truck heading towards Upper Assam.
Many of those killed were young people, including college students returning from their classes. Two women were also among the deceased, a police officer said.
The injured were initially taken to nearby hospitals, including Kohora Model Hospital. Several patients requiring advanced medical care were referred to hospitals in Jorhat, Bokakhat and Golaghat.
A senior doctor at Kohora Model Hospital confirmed that the death toll had reached 26 as hospitals continued to receive information about casualties. Officials said the identities of the deceased were being established.
Police suspect that the minibus was travelling at excessive speed and may have crossed into the opposite lane before the collision. The exact circumstances of the crash are being investigated.
A preliminary account from the truck driver suggested that the passenger vehicle struck the goods carrier head-on. The truck driver and another person travelling in the vehicle escaped with minor injuries.
The Golaghat district administration has said it will conduct an inquiry into the accident, including whether either vehicle violated traffic regulations or speed restrictions along the Kaziranga stretch.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the families of those killed and announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased person. The injured will receive Rs 50,000 each from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also expressed grief over the loss of lives and said the government was prioritising medical treatment for the injured.
(With inputs from media reports)