Guwahati, Nov 14 (PTI): Senior Assam Congress leader Mira Borthakur Goswami on Saturday urged the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to conduct an independent investigation into the accident near Kaziranga National Park and fix responsibility.
Twenty-six people died and 20 others were injured in a head-on collision between a minibus and a container truck near Kaziranga National Park in Golaghat district on Friday.
The president of the Assam Congress women’s wing also called on the NHAI to undertake immediate repair of the highway in the state, and establish adequate emergency medical treatment and rescue facilities.
In a letter to the chairman of the NHAI, through the regional officer here, Goswami maintained that the accident “has once again exposed serious concerns regarding road safety, highway maintenance, traffic regulation and the availability of emergency medical facilities on Assam’s National Highways.”
She said that the Kaziranga accident cannot be viewed as an isolated incident as similar mishaps have occurred earlier in areas, such as Sonapur and Bokakhat.
“Repeated incidents raise serious questions about whether adequate preventive measures, regular highway inspections and effective road safety mechanisms are being implemented,” she added.
Goswami sought an independent technical investigation by the NHAI, which would examine the condition and design of the highway, road surface, signage, lighting and safety barriers, and fix responsibility wherever negligence is established. She urged the Central agency to repair potholes, damaged road surfaces and unsafe sections without delay.
For identification of accident-prone locations, Goswami maintained that the NHAI must conduct a comprehensive road safety audit of all national highways in the state, identify black spots and take corrective measures within a fixed timeframe.
Calling for improved emergency medical and rescue facilities, she urged the NHAI to establish adequately equipped trauma care facilities along major national highways, introduce dedicated road safety mobile hospitals and advanced ambulances, and establish a 24-hour emergency response mechanism.
The Congress leader also stressed strict monitoring of commercial vehicles and coordination between the NHAI and the state transport and traffic authorities to take action against habitual traffic offenders.
Goswami sought compensation and support to victims’ families under applicable government schemes and legal provisions, and necessary assistance to injured passengers and their families.
She also requested the NHAI to publish data on accident figures from January 1, 2026 till date, number of deaths and injuries, details of identified accident-prone locations, road safety audits conducted and corrective measures taken, and details of ambulances, trauma centres and emergency response facilities available along the national highways of the state.
“Development cannot be measured merely by the construction of highways or the collection of toll taxes. The real measure of development must be the safety and well-being of the people who use these roads. The people of Assam deserve safe highways, proper maintenance, effective traffic management and immediate emergency medical assistance,” Goswami added.
Family of each deceased in minibus-truck collision to receive Rs 9 L ex gratia: Himanta
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said the next of kin of each person who died in the minibus-truck collision in Kaziranga a day ago will receive Rs 9 lakh as ex gratia.
The compensation amount includes Rs 2 lakh ex gratia announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sarma said, after visiting the accident site on NH-715 at Rangajan in Kaziranga. Twenty-six people died in the head-on collision between the two vehicles near Kaziranga National Park on Friday. Many of the victims were college students who were returning from their classes when the accident occurred. “An ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh will be given to the family of each deceased from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, Rs 2 lakh from the State Disaster Management Authority and Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister,” Sarma told reporters.
He said ministers would hand over the amount to the deceased’s family members at their homes after the bodies arrive at their respective residences, following post-mortem examinations.
“No amount of money can compensate such a loss, especially for families who have lost more than one member,” Sarma said. He said what happened in Kaziranga was ‘’heartbreaking’’.
“My thoughts and prayers are with every family who lost a loved one, and the Assam government stands with you (bereaved families) at this painful time,” he said.
Sarma said he would personally visit the home of every bereaved family in the next two to three days.
Steps have been taken to complete the post-mortem examinations on Saturday, he said.
Sarma said the government is ensuring that the injured persons get special medical care at Jorhat Medical College and Hospital and other health facilities where they are undergoing treatment.
“Additional doctors from Guwahati and other hospitals have been sent so that post-mortem examinations are completed quickly, and the injured get the best possible care,” the chief minister said.
A detailed investigation into the accident is underway, he said, adding, “We will look at every possible cause behind this tragedy”.
‘’I admit that some traffic restrictions were relaxed at the Nalbari Cabinet meeting because of political pressure. Even then, I felt we should not have allowed such relaxations,” he said.
The chief minister said strict traffic rules will be enforced because people’s lives come first.
He directed the police and the district administration to intensify road safety awareness and enforcement to prevent such tragedies in future.
Earlier, Education Minister Ranoj Pegu, who was deputed by the CM to visit the accident site and the hospitals where the injured have been undergoing treatment, said 18 injured are under treatment.
“Seven of the 18 injured are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, and their condition remains critical,” he said.
The 11 others admitted at the two hospitals are stable, the minister said, adding that the state government will bear all costs for the injured’s treatment.
Pegu said that the state government will make necessary arrangements if any of the injured need to be shifted to specialised hospitals for advanced treatment.
Doctors from the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital and the Assam Medical College and Hospital, Dibrugarh, have reached Jorhat and Golaghat to assist those treating the injured and conducting the post-mortem examinations.
The post-mortem examinations of the deceased were being conducted at Swahid Kushal Konwar Civil Hospital in Golaghat, after which ambulances will take the bodies to their residences, he said.
The Golaghat district authorities on Friday said a thorough inquiry would be conducted to determine how the accident occurred and whether either or both of the vehicles violated traffic norms.
Speed restrictions are enforced along the entire stretch of the 60 km highway, with a maximum limit of 20 km/hour along the identified animal corridors, with speed-monitoring cameras installed at regular intervals along the stretch.
A forensic team from Guwahati has also reached the accident site to collect evidence.
The minibus was going from Golaghat to Nagaon, while the container truck was going from Tezpur to Dibrugarh.
The driver of the truck, who received minor injuries, claimed the minibus switched lanes, swerving towards his side and hitting the vehicle at a very high speed. Both the driver and the handyman of the minibus died on the spot.