The death toll in the devastating road accident near Assam’s Kaziranga National Park has risen to 26, with seven of the injured passengers continuing to battle for their lives in hospital. The state government has ordered a detailed investigation into the collision between a passenger minibus and a container truck, as disturbing dashcam footage has brought fresh attention to the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The accident took place on Friday, November 13, near Rangajan in Golaghat district, close to Hathikuli Tea Estate in the Kohora range. The minibus collided head-on with a container truck on National Highway 715, a major road passing through the Kaziranga region. Several passengers were trapped inside the badly damaged vehicle following the impact, making rescue operations particularly difficult.
Many of those killed were students, including college students who were reportedly returning from their classes. Women and children were also among the victims, turning the accident into one of the region’s most tragic road disasters in recent years.
According to officials, 26 people have died, while 18 others sustained injuries. The injured were taken to hospitals in Golaghat and Jorhat for treatment. Seven of them are currently in the intensive care unit at Jorhat Medical College Hospital, with their condition described as critical. The remaining injured passengers are reported to be stable.
Assam minister Ranoj Pegu said on Saturday that post-mortem examinations of the deceased would be conducted at Swahid Kushal Konwar Civil Hospital in Golaghat. Ambulances have been arranged to transport the bodies to the victims’ respective homes after the procedures are completed.
Medical teams from Gauhati Medical College and Hospital and Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh have also reached the affected areas to assist local doctors. The state government has assured families that all medical expenses for the injured will be covered. Arrangements will also be made to shift critically injured patients to specialised hospitals if required.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is scheduled to visit the injured passengers and meet the families of those who lost their lives. He has directed officials to coordinate relief and medical assistance and ensure that affected families receive the necessary support.
The accident has also raised serious questions about road safety and traffic rule enforcement along the Kaziranga highway. A dashcam video of the collision has surfaced, showing the minibus approaching at high speed before apparently moving into the opposite lane and crashing into the oncoming container truck. The impact is visible in the footage, which captures the moment of collision.
The video has added weight to preliminary suspicions that the minibus driver may have lost control of the vehicle. However, investigators are yet to establish the exact cause of the accident, and the footage will form part of the investigation.
Initial reports suggest that the minibus was travelling at a very high speed and may have violated traffic restrictions imposed along the Kaziranga stretch. The truck driver, who reportedly suffered minor injuries, claimed that the minibus suddenly swerved towards his side of the road before the collision.
There are also concerns about the vehicle’s previous traffic record. Reports citing official vehicle database information indicate that the passenger minibus had received more than 10 traffic challans before the accident. While around Rs 38,500 in penalties had reportedly been paid, another Rs 4,000 remained outstanding.
Some of the previous violations were reportedly related to overspeeding. One record indicated that the vehicle had been fined after allegedly travelling at 102 kmph in Jorhat earlier this year. Authorities are examining these records to determine whether repeated traffic violations contributed to the tragedy.
The district administration has ordered a comprehensive inquiry to establish whether the minibus or the container truck violated traffic regulations. Investigators are examining possible overspeeding, overloading and other safety violations. The exact number of passengers travelling in the minibus has not been officially established, although an initial estimate suggested that around 45 people could have been on board.
The investigation will also examine whether the driver ignored speed restrictions imposed on the highway, particularly in areas close to the national park. The 60-km stretch has designated animal corridors where the maximum permitted speed is 20 kmph. Speed-monitoring cameras have been installed at regular intervals to discourage motorists from driving beyond the prescribed limits and reduce the risk of accidents involving wildlife.
A forensic team from Guwahati has reached the accident site to collect evidence. Officials are expected to examine the vehicles, road conditions, dashcam footage and other material to reconstruct the sequence of events. The findings will help establish whether driver negligence or violations of traffic rules played a role in the collision.
The incident has also renewed concerns about passenger safety in commercial transport vehicles and the enforcement of traffic regulations on busy highways. The reported history of traffic challans against the minibus has raised questions about whether earlier violations were adequately addressed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the loss of lives and announced financial assistance from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. The families of those killed will receive Rs 2 lakh each, while those injured will be given Rs 50,000 each.
The Assam government has also assured assistance to the affected families and said that the injured will receive necessary medical treatment without financial burden.
Meanwhile, the administration is working to complete the identification and post-mortem procedures and ensure that the bodies are transported to the victims’ hometowns. Officials have also been coordinating with neighbouring districts to help families complete the necessary formalities.
