Indus Valley Times

By Dalim Phukan

Guwahati, Sep 1 : Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday visited the site of the tragic road accident at Tetelia in Khetri, where seven people were killed in a head-on collision on National Highway 27 on Sunday evening.

The Chief Minister inspected the accident site and took stock of the circumstances leading to the mishap and the situation following the incident. He directed the district administration to take immediate steps to repair the damaged portions of the National Highway and the service road.

The accident occurred when a traveller travelling from Nagaon towards Guwahati collided head-on with a truck coming from the opposite direction. Seven people were killed and several others injured in the incident.

After inspecting the site, Dr. Sarma announced financial assistance of ₹5 lakh each to the next of kin of the seven deceased persons. He also announced that those injured and undergoing treatment at Gauhati Medical College Hospital would be provided free medical treatment.

According to the Chief Minister, the preliminary police investigation has indicated that potholes on the National Highway were a cause of the accident. He said the National Highways Authority of India generally assigns road repair responsibilities to contractors, and alleged that the contractor concerned had failed to discharge the responsibility properly.

Dr. Sarma said the Chairman of the National Highways Authority of India had assured that the damaged road would be repaired at the earliest. He added that the State Government would take appropriate measures to prevent recurrence of such accidents.

The Chief Minister further said that anyone found guilty during the police investigation would be brought under the purview of the law.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by MP Bijuli Kalita Medhi, MLA Tapan Das, Guwahati Police Commissioner Partha Sarathi Mahanta, District Commissioner Swapnil Paul and other senior government officials.