Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday visited the affected families of Bocha Bharalua village who lost their loved ones in a tragic bus accident earlier this month.
As many as 12 people were killed and several others were injured when a group of 45 picnic-goers from the village were traveling on a bus that collided head-on with an oncoming coal-laden truck at Balijan near Dergaon which falls under the Golaghat East tehsil of Assam's Golaghat district.
During his visit to Golaghat today, the chief minister made it a point to meet the families of the deceased and extend his condolences personally. CM Sarma prayed for peace to the departed souls.
Meanwhile, the Assam CM also announced certain financial assistance packages for the families of the deceased. According to the information received, he announced Rs 2 lakhs each to the families who lost their loved ones in the incident.
Out for an al-fresco, 12 people, part of a group of 45 were killed as the bus they were traveling on, collided with an oncoming coal-laden truck in Dergaon in Assam’s Golaghat district on Wednesday (January 3).
While 10 bodies were pulled out from the wreckage including five women and a minor boy, over 20 others sustained minor to major injuries in the accident, officials informed.
The accident took place at around 5 am on national highway 37 when the passenger bus crashed into an oncoming coal-laden dumper.
It may be noted that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma earlier in the day distributed ration cards to beneficiaries in Golaghat's Dergaon.
Speaking to the media, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "Rahul Gandhi arrived in Assam from Meghalaya with 3,000 people and 200 vehicles. We can assess the circumstances and determine what would have happened in Guwahati if he had visited the city today with 3,000 people and 200 automobiles."
"We have requested them not to enter the city several times over the last six days, but they have been permitted to continue their yatra via the National Highway. Despite the blockage, party leaders and members engaged in a confrontation with state police officers. Rahul was inciting the mob by standing near his vehicle. As a result, we will file a criminal case against him. The police will take appropriate measures based on their investigations and enquiries. We won't arrest him now, but after the Lok Sabha elections," he added.
