Thirty-one people were killed, 28 of them on the spot, when a speeding truck rammed into a mini-bus (winger) and then dragged it backward to hit another (cruiser) in western Assam’s Barpeta district.
The two passenger vehicles were travelling one after the other. Both overturned under the impact of the collision.
The mishap took place at Doholapara around 4.30am on Thursday. The deceased included 12 children, eight women and the drivers of the two mini-buses.
“Twenty-eight people died on the spot while three others succumbed to their injuries in hospital,” Barpeta Deputy Commissioner Siddharth Singh told The Pioneer on Thursday.
“Sixteen injured people are undergoing treatment at hospitals in Guwahati, Barpeta and Bongaigaon. The condition of five is critical,” he said.
The victims, who hailed from Dhubri district, were labourers working at brick kilns in Rangia, 60km west off Guwahati. They were headed to their workplace in the two vehicles with their family members when the tragedy struck.
“The driver of the truck (from West Bengal) has been arrested. He was not under the influence of alcohol. The cause of the mishap is yet to be ascertained,” Singh added.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has mourned the tragedy. He visited some of the injured at the Barpeta Medical College and Hospital. The State Government has announced an ex gratia payment of Rs1 lakh each to the next of kin of the victims. The Chief Minister has also ordered an inquiry into the incident.