A minibus and a container truck collided head-on near Kaziranga National Park in Assam on Friday.
Police say at least 23 people were killed in the crash.
The accident happened at Rangajan, near Hathikuli Tea Estate, in the Kohora range.
It took place on National Highway 715, in Golaghat district.
Many of the people on board were students returning from classes, police said. Around 20 others were injured.
Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report
The crash has shaken the state, the chief minister said.
Key points
- At least 23 people were killed in a head-on collision on Friday.
- The crash happened at Rangajan on National Highway 715, near Kaziranga National Park.
- Police suspect the minibus was speeding and the driver lost control.
- The police investigation into the cause is continuing.
What caused the crash, according to police?
Police say the minibus was travelling at very high speed.
They say it was also violating restrictions imposed in the area near the park.
Police think the driver lost control of the vehicle. The minibus then crashed into the container truck.
This is still a suspicion, and the cause is under investigation.
How are the injured and rescue work being handled?
Injured people were taken to Kohora Model Hospital.
Most of the critically injured were sent to Jorhat Medical College and Hospital.
Assam Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Atul Bora, who is also the local MLA, reached the site immediately.
He supervised the rescue and relief work.
What happens next in the investigation?
Police said the exact number of people in the bus was not immediately known.
Bodies were still being retrieved from the vehicle when officials spoke.
Officers said the death toll could rise.
District administration officials have reached the spot and are looking into the matter further.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed deep grief over the loss of lives.
He sent condolences to the families and said the people of Assam stood with them.
Explainer
What happened before
- The minibus was travelling from Bokakhat towards Nagaon, police said.
- The crash happened on National Highway 715, near Kaziranga National Park.
Why it matters
Police say the minibus was violating restrictions imposed near the park when the crash happened.
What to watch next
- Police are investigating what led to the accident.
- The death toll might go up, and district officials are looking into the matter further.
Sources
- Times Now: At Least 23 Killed, Several Feared Dead After Bus-Truck Collision In Assam's Kaziranga
- bhaskarenglish: 23 killed as minibus and container collide head-on in Assam:College students among victims; rescue underway
- Hindustan Times: At least 12 dead after bus carrying 35, including students, collides with truck in Assam
