Bokakhat road mishap claims twelve lives

Enquiry ordered, 7 battling for life

BY OUR BUREAU

BOKAKHAT/JORHAT, February 8: In a tragic road accident, 12 persons were killed on the spot while seven others were seriously injured, when a Dergaon bound Winger (AS 05 C 1714) carrying at least 19 passengers including the driver, hit a Tinsukia bound truck at Latabari under Bokakhat Police Station in Golaghat district in the early hours of Sunday. The truck (NL 04 D 2847) carrying iron rods, was statiory on NH–37 at the time of accident.

Golaghat Additiol Superintendent of Police Numal Mahato informed that the Winger was coming from Dhokuakha with passengers who had gone there to attend the Srimanta Sankardev Sangha annual session. “Twelve of the passengers died on the spot while seven were seriously injured. They are currently undergoing treatment at Jorhat Medical College and Hospital and Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh,” he said.

Of the seven injured persons, three have been identified as Jatin Borah, Bitu Barhoi and Meera Boruah. The persons who died on the spot, have been identified as Probin Boruah, Prati Bora, Noni Bora, Dibakar Bora, Atul Bora, Runu Bora, Surjya Saikia, Lalit Bora, Atul Saikia, Dharmeswar Bora, Molan Bora and Arun Kurmi.

Kurmi, the driver of the Winger, was sleeping at the time of the accident while the son of the Winger’s owner, who had no driving license, was on the driver’s seat, sources said.

As soon as news of the accident spread, members of Bokakhat Jourlists’ Association, Bokakhat Press Club, police personnel, administrative officers of Bokakhat and fire workers rushed to the accident site and took part in the rescue operation.

The passengers of the Winger were from Jugania, Bilotia and Habial villages of Gak Pukhuri.

Meanwhile, Golaghat Deputy Commissioner Nitin Khare has been asked to institute an enquiry into the incident and the driver of the truck alongwith two others were picked up for interrogation.

The Srimanta Sankardev Sangha 84th annual session organizing committee and other organizations like the AASU, the AJYCP and the Lawyers Union, have deeply condoled the death of the 12 passengers.

STAFF REPORTER FROM GUWAHATI ADDS: Two passengers were killed at Gossaigaon when a vehicle in which they were travelling fell into a pond on Saturday night. In another incident at Balipara in Sonitpur, another person was killed in a road mishap.