More than 15 people are feared dead after a passenger bus and a container truck collided head-on on a national highway at Rangajan in Kaziranga, according to preliminary reports. The exact death toll had not been confirmed at the time of reporting.
The passenger vehicle was travelling from Jorhat towards Nagaon and was carrying more than 35 passengers, reports said. Several passengers were critically injured in the collision. The injured were rescued and admitted to Kohora Adarsha Hospital.
A rescue operation was launched at the accident site, and the crash triggered intense panic in the area. Authorities have not yet confirmed the final number of casualties.
The accident has renewed questions over the condition and maintenance of the national highway and the role of the National Highways Authority of India. Local residents allege they have demanded repairs to this stretch for years and have staged protests at different times, but the authorities have not given their demands due importance.
