Bihu team meets with accident, 6 dead

*     Horrific Winger-dumper collision at Ramgar near Digboi in wee hours

*     Organisations appeal to Bihu committees not to hold late-night functions

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

DIGBOI, April 24: In a heart-rending road mishap in the midst of continuing Rongali Bihu celebrations, 6 persons died and 15 were injured, after a Pengeree bound Winger carrying a Bihu team, collided head on with a dumper early on Friday morning at Ramgar in Digboi on NH 38.

The deceased were identified as Ani Gogoi (17), Dipika Moran (17), Akash Protim Sharma (19), Sanjib Chakhap (30), Biswajit Chetia (24) and Hemanta Das (19).

The injured are now being treated at Assam Medical College Hospital in Dibrugarh, with several of them in critical condition.

According to reports, the mishap occurred when the ill-fated Winger, carrying an Assamese cultural troupe med ‘Biri’ of Pengeree returning home after performing stage Bihu programme at Kakopothar and Tinsukia, collided head with a dumper belonging to one Kushal Sharma of Guwahati heading in the opposite direction, early at dawn around 5.15 am.

Rushing to the spot, the Digboi police had to use gas cutters to cut through the mangled vehicle and take the dead and injured out, who were trapped inside.

Meanwhile, various local organisations and associations including Unyan Samity, Digboi garik Samity, women organizations and Sahitya Sewa Samity offered condolences at the Bihutoli in the evening. These organisations also urged various Bihu committees not to organize late night Bihu functions and competitions.

The dumper has been seized by Digboi police though no arrests have been made so far.