A devastating road accident on National Highway-27 in Assam has claimed the lives of seven people and left five others injured after a passenger bus collided head-on with a goods truck near Sonapur.
The accident occurred in the Nalagedera-Tetelia area under Khetri police station on Sunday evening. According to police, the bus was travelling towards Guwahati from Nagaon when the driver lost control of the vehicle and it crossed the divider before crashing into the truck coming from the opposite direction.
Pothole may have triggered crash
Police are examining whether a large pothole on the highway contributed to the accident.
Local residents claimed the bus hit a pothole shortly before the collision, causing the driver to lose control. Authorities are investigating the claim to determine the exact circumstances behind the crash.
The impact was severe, with the front portion of the passenger vehicle badly damaged. Rescue teams reportedly had to cut through parts of the wreckage to pull out passengers.
Seven dead, five undergoing treatment
Police initially reported multiple casualties at the accident site, with several injured passengers rushed to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).
Three people reportedly died at the spot, while four others later succumbed to their injuries during treatment, taking the death toll to seven. Five injured people remain under treatment, according to the latest police update.
The bus reportedly carried 14 people, including the driver and helper. No one travelling in the goods truck was injured.
Truck driver fled the scene
Police said the truck driver fled the accident site following the collision and efforts are underway to trace him.
Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the crash, including the condition of the road and the possibility that the pothole contributed to the bus losing control.
Locals protest over road conditions
The accident triggered anger among residents, who blocked NH-27 in protest.
Locals alleged that potholes and poor road maintenance have contributed to repeated accidents along the stretch. They demanded immediate repairs and accountability from the agencies responsible for maintaining the highway.
NHAI given seven-day deadline
Following the accident, the district administration directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to repair potholes along the affected Khanapara-Sonapur stretch within seven days.
Officials have also formed a committee to monitor the repair work and submit a report. The NHAI has reportedly agreed to the deadline and said action would be taken against contractors linked to the highway maintenance.
₹5 lakh compensation announced
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited the accident site and expressed condolences to the victims' families.
The state government announced ₹5 lakh compensation for the family of each person who died in the crash. The government also said the road's condition would be reviewed and corrective measures taken to prevent similar accidents.
The tragedy has once again raised concerns about road safety and highway maintenance in Assam, particularly on stretches where potholes and inadequate maintenance have been repeatedly flagged by residents.
