Guwahati (Assam) [India], November 13 (ANI): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday expressed profound grief over the tragic accident in Kaziranga earlier today and conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones.
Terming the incident as deeply distressing, the Chief Minister said that the loss of life has shaken everyone and that his thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families.
He added that while no words can lessen their pain, the Government and the people of Assam stand firmly with them in this hour of grief.
The Chief Minister, who is currently on a two-day official tour of Biswanath district, is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with the Golaghat District Commissioner and Minister for Panchayat and Rural Development Atul Bora. Atul Bora was present at the accident site and personally oversaw the ongoing relief and rescue operations.
Sarma has also directed Education Minister Ranoj Pegu to proceed to the site immediately and extend all possible assistance.
The Chief Minister has directed the concerned authorities to ensure that the injured receive immediate and the best possible medical attention.
He has also called for all necessary arrangements to be made in connection with the accident.
Sarma has prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured and strength and courage for the bereaved families to bear this irreparable loss.
The Chief Minister will visit Golaghat district tomorrow to take stock of the situation.
Meanwhile, several political leaders across party lines have expressed deep shock and grief following the head-on collision in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park area, which claimed over two dozen lives.
Speaking on the tragic incident, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Taranga Gogoi described the event as profoundly distressing for the state.
Highlighting the scale of the disaster, which reports indicate resulted in 25 to 26 fatalities, he appealed directly to commercial transport operators.
"This is extremely tragic news for Assam. No one ever expects such an accident to occur. Yet, this accident has happened, and reports indicate that 25 to 26 people have lost their lives. It is a deeply distressing incident...I urge all drivers of commercial trucks and buses to be mindful of their speed. In this case, not only did the driver lose his own life, but he also took 25 others with him. We all need to act responsibly and adhere to speed limits," Taranga Gogoi told ANI.
Echoing similar concerns over frequent mishaps, BJP MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa extended his condolences and visited the injured undergoing treatment at Jorhat Medical College.
"This is truly terrible. Road accidents are occurring all too frequently. The government has implemented very strict regulations, including speed limits and the deployment of interceptor vehicles along the roads even in the Kaziranga area. How this specific incident occurred will only be revealed through an initial inquiry; I do not have the details yet. As soon as I learned of the accident, I rushed to Jorhat Medical College. I can see that the medical team is handling the situation well, and the families of the victims are also present," Tasa told reporters.
The tragedy has triggered a sharp political debate over highway maintenance. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi launched a scathing critique of the state's transport infrastructure, linking recurring highway fatalities to systemic flaws and oversight failures.
"The highways in Assam have become a den of corruption. The quality of construction is so poor that accidents are taking place every month. I don't know why the Government of India is collecting tolls, and I don't know why the Government of India is not maintaining proper highways. It is just unfortunate. This could have been totally avoided, but it is happening solely because of corruption, the greed of contractors, and their nexus with politicians, which forces ordinary people to suffer," Gogoi told ANI.
The remarks came after multiple fatalities were feared following the head-on collision between a passenger vehicle and a truck in Assam's Golaghat district on Friday in the Rongajaan area near the Kaziranga National Park, police said.
At least 24 people were killed following a severe head-on collision between a passenger vehicle and a container truck in Assam's Golaghat district on Friday.
The tragedy occurred in the Rongajaan area near the Kaziranga National Park, police said.
State Minister and Bokakhat MLA Atul Bora, who rushed to the accident site to personally oversee rescue and relief operations, provided an update over the phone regarding the casualties and medical response.
"24 people died in the accident so far, and 11 injured persons were shifted to Jorhat Medical College & Hospital," Bora told ANI, adding that other survivors receiving medical attention "were admitted at Bokakhat Civil Hospital."
The police official confirmed that several other individuals sustained injuries in the accident and have been rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
Rescue and relief operations are currently underway at the site.Further details are awaited. (ANI)
Assam CM mourns loss of life in Kaziranga accident; directs immediate relief measures
