Kaziranga: At least 24 people were killed and 11 injured after a minibus collided head-on with a container truck near Kaziranga National Park in Assam on Thursday. The accident occurred at Rongajan, near Hathikuli Tea Estate in the Kohora range, along National Highway-715.

Assam Minister Atul Bora confirmed the death toll after visiting hospitals where the injured were being treated. He said 11 people had sustained injuries and were taken to Jorhat Medical College and Hospital for treatment. Some of the injured were reported to be in critical condition.

The collision involved a minibus travelling from Bokakhat towards Nagaon and a truck. Initial reports suggested that the minibus was travelling at a very high speed before the crash. However, authorities said the precise cause would be established through a detailed investigation.

The accident triggered an emergency response involving police, district administration officials, medical teams and ambulances. Rescue personnel worked to retrieve victims from the damaged vehicle, while arrangements were made to transport the injured to hospitals.

Minibus reportedly travelling at high speed

Preliminary accounts indicate that the minibus was travelling at a very high speed when the accident occurred.

An official told that the vehicle may have lost control before colliding with the container truck. The official also alleged that the minibus had violated restrictions imposed in the area near Kaziranga National Park.

“We think that the accident took place when the driver of the minibus lost control, and the vehicle collided with the container truck,” the official said.

The circumstances surrounding the collision remain under investigation. Officials have not yet established whether speeding by either vehicle, a violation of traffic restrictions or another factor directly caused the crash.

Assam Minister Atul Bora said eyewitnesses had claimed that speeding by either of the vehicles contributed to the collision. He emphasised that the exact cause would be known only after the investigation.

The number of passengers travelling in the minibus was not immediately established. Investigators are also expected to examine whether the vehicle was carrying more passengers than its permitted seating capacity.

24 deaths confirmed, 11 injured

The initial death toll was considerably lower as rescue teams continued retrieving victims from the wreckage.

Golaghat Senior Superintendent of Police Swapnaneel Deka initially told PTI that at least seven people had died. He said officials were at the accident site and bodies were being recovered from the minibus, warning that the toll could rise.

As rescue and medical operations progressed, the number of confirmed deaths increased sharply.

An Executive Magistrate from Golaghat district later said doctors had confirmed 23 deaths. The official described the toll as rising rapidly while authorities worked to establish the identities of those killed.

Minister Atul Bora subsequently confirmed that 24 people had died and 11 had been injured.

The injured were shifted to Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, with doctors referring patients for advanced treatment. Authorities were also coordinating medical assistance for those in critical condition.

The identities of the deceased were being ascertained, adding to the challenges faced by officials during the immediate response.

Nine ambulances deployed for rescue operations

The district administration mobilised emergency medical services soon after receiving information about the collision.

An Executive Magistrate said nine ambulances were rushed to the accident site to transport the injured to hospitals.

Officials also said that 20 people had been referred to Jorhat for advanced medical treatment.

The administration coordinated with medical personnel to ensure that injured passengers received treatment without delay. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said providing the best possible medical care to survivors was the government’s immediate priority.

The ministerial and district-level teams also visited hospitals to assess the situation and oversee relief arrangements.

The accident site, located along a highway close to the Kaziranga National Park area, required coordinated rescue and recovery operations. Authorities continued their work as the number of casualties became clearer.

Probe to examine speeding and traffic violations

The Golaghat district administration has ordered a detailed inquiry into the accident.

Officials said investigators would examine how the collision occurred and whether either vehicle had violated traffic regulations.

The inquiry will specifically look into possible speeding and compliance with restrictions imposed near Kaziranga National Park. Authorities will also examine whether the minibus was carrying passengers beyond its permitted seating capacity.

Additional District Commissioner Jintu Borah said the post-mortem examinations of the deceased would be conducted at Swahid Kushal Konwar Civil Hospital in Golaghat.

Special lighting arrangements were being made to enable the examinations to be carried out during the night.

The investigation is expected to establish the sequence of events leading to the collision and determine whether any violations contributed to the tragedy.

While preliminary accounts have pointed towards excessive speed and a possible loss of control by the minibus driver, officials have cautioned that the final cause must be established through the inquiry.

Himanta Sarma expresses grief, assures medical assistance

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed deep distress over the loss of lives and extended condolences to the families of the victims.

In a post on X, Sarma said the scale of the tragedy had shaken the state and expressed solidarity with families who had lost loved ones.

He said the government would focus on ensuring that those injured received the best possible medical care without delay.

Sarma also said Assam Minister Atul Bora was present at the accident site and personally overseeing relief arrangements.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed anguish over the incident. He described the loss of lives as heartbreaking and offered condolences to the bereaved families.

Singh said no words could adequately ease the pain of losing loved ones and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

Questions over road safety near Kaziranga

The accident has renewed attention on road safety along National Highway-715 near Kaziranga National Park.

The district administration’s decision to investigate possible violations of speed restrictions and passenger limits will be important in establishing whether safety rules were followed.

The reported possibility of a minibus travelling at excessive speed has also raised questions about compliance with traffic regulations in the area.

However, the precise circumstances remain subject to the official investigation, and the responsibility of either driver has not yet been established.

With 24 people confirmed dead and 11 injured, the collision is a major tragedy for Assam. The immediate priority remains the treatment of survivors, identification of the deceased and support for affected families.

The findings of the inquiry will be crucial in determining what led to the crash and whether violations or lapses in road safety enforcement contributed to the loss of lives.