Kaziranga, November 14: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited the site of the devastating road accident at Rongajan in Kaziranga on Saturday morning, as the death toll rose to 26. Expressing deep sorrow over the tragedy, the Chief Minister said, “This incident is extremely tragic. No money can measure the loss of these lives.”
The Chief Minister inspected the accident site and took stock of the situation from officials. Ministers Keshab Mahanta, Atul Bora, Biswajit Daimary and Charan Boro, along with senior administrative officials, accompanied him during the visit.
Rs 9 Lakh Compensation for Each Victim’s Family
The Chief Minister announced a total compensation of Rs 9 lakh for the family of each person who died in the accident.
The compensation package includes Rs 5 lakh from the Assam Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, Rs 2 lakh under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.
Sarma said that after the post-mortem examinations, ministers from the Assam government would visit the homes of the deceased to stand with their families.
He also said he would personally visit the victims’ homes after the funeral ceremonies were completed.
Six Injured in ICU
Providing an update on the condition of the injured, the Chief Minister said that 10 people were currently stable, while six others remained in intensive care units (ICUs).
He said the government was taking necessary steps to ensure proper medical treatment for the injured.
Did the Traveller Driver Suffer a Stroke?
The Chief Minister said the possibility of the Traveller driver suffering a stroke while driving could not be ruled out.
He stressed the importance of a detailed post-mortem examination of the driver to determine whether a medical emergency contributed to the accident.
Sarma also said that the Superintendent of Police had shown him the accident footage. He noted that the collision could have occurred due to several possible reasons and that the investigation would establish the exact cause.
CM Calls for Stricter Traffic Enforcement
Calling for stronger measures to prevent road accidents, Sarma said traffic police would have to enforce road safety rules more strictly.
“Traffic police must be strict to prevent accidents. People should not be upset with us for taking such measures,” he said.
The Chief Minister observed that the government often faced criticism and public protests when it introduced stricter traffic regulations.
He appealed to people to cooperate with traffic police, stating that government decisions were taken in the interest of public safety.
Shops Closed in Bokakhat as Region Mourns
Shops and commercial establishments across the Bokakhat area remained closed on Saturday as a mark of respect for those who lost their lives in the tragedy.
The accident took place near Rongajan in Golaghat district on National Highway 715 on Friday, when a passenger Traveller travelling from Golaghat towards Nagaon collided head-on with a container truck.
The crash claimed 26 lives and left several others injured, triggering widespread grief across Assam.
The investigation is continuing to establish the circumstances that led to the fatal collision.
Also Read: Kaziranga Road Accident: President, PM and Political Leaders Express Grief
