Tragic Collision Claims Three Lives on Assam Highway
A devastating road accident on National Highway 37 in Tinsukia district has left three people dead and twelve others injured, prompting immediate action from local authorities. The tragic incident occurred on Tuesday morning near Hukanpukhuri at Makum, when an ambulance carrying patients and attendants collided head-on with a night bus.
The fatal collision involved an ambulance transporting fifteen people from Powai Tea Estate and an oncoming night bus headed toward Makum. The impact of the crash proved immediately fatal for two passengers, identified as Gobin Bhuyan and his wife Minju Bhuyan, who died at the scene. A third victim succumbed to injuries later while receiving medical treatment.
Emergency Response and Medical Care
Emergency services rushed to the accident site and transported all twelve injured individuals to nearby medical facilities. Several critically injured patients required advanced care and were subsequently shifted to Assam Medical College for specialized treatment. The ambulance was carrying a mix of patients and their attendants from the tea estate area when the tragedy struck.
District Authorities Spring Into Action
In response to the growing concern over road safety, the Tinsukia district road safety committee convened an urgent meeting on Wednesday. The meeting was chaired by District Commissioner Swapneel Paul and held at the conference hall of the DC's office, bringing together key officials to address the alarming rise in accidents.
Senior police officials including Tinsukia SSP Mayank Kumar and additional SP Nishant Saurabh participated in the detailed review session. The meeting also saw representation from the district transport officer, NHIDCL officials, major road construction companies, and the executive engineer of the PWD, who collectively analyzed accident causes and identified safety lapses.
District Commissioner Swapneel Paul emphasized the critical need for robust safety protocols and immediate highway upgrades to prevent similar tragedies. "Our priority is to work together to enhance road safety, enforce traffic regulations strictly, and implement engineering solutions to reduce accidents," Paul stated during the meeting.
Immediate Safety Measures Announced
The committee outlined several immediate action points to address the road safety crisis. Authorities plan to intensify enforcement drives against speeding, with particular focus on night hours when visibility decreases and drivers tend to overspeed.
The Public Works Department and NHIDCL have been directed to conduct an urgent audit of accident-prone zones along NH-37. This audit will specifically address issues such as poor signage, inadequate lighting, and other infrastructure deficiencies that contribute to road accidents.
SSP Mayank Kumar declared zero tolerance for traffic violations and announced comprehensive measures to improve road safety. "We will strengthen night patrols, deploy additional checkpoints, and launch a public awareness campaign on road safety rules," Kumar affirmed.
The tragic incident has highlighted the pressing need for improved road safety infrastructure and stricter enforcement of traffic regulations in Tinsukia district, as authorities work to prevent future loss of life on the region's highways.
