12 killed, 7 injured as picnic bus collides with truck in Assam, PM Modi announces ex-gratia

New Delhi: In a tragic incident, 12 passengers were killed and 7 others injured when the bus in which they were travelling collided with a truck at Balijan village in Golaghat district in Assam on Wednesday.

Police said, the accident occurred when the bus was enroute from Golaghat Bachagaon to Tinsukia for a picnic collided with the truck coming from the opposite direction.

Golaghat District Commissioner P. Uday Prabin talking to media said that there were 49 passengers onboard the bus, and added that the accident will be investigated.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident and announced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

"Pained by the loss of lives due to a road mishap in Golaghat, Assam. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest. The local administration is providing all possible assistance to those affected.

An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000", Modi said on X (Formerly known as twitter).

Pained by the loss of lives due to a road mishap in Golaghat, Assam. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest. The local administration is providing all possible assistance to those affected. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be…

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 3, 2024

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma taking to X said "I expressed my deep anguish at the horrific bus accident in Dergaon and offer my condolences to the bereaved families.

The local administration is providing all necessary support to the injured in this difficult hour.

Prayers for their swift recovery," Sarma said. (Inputs from UNI)

HCM Dr @himantabiswa has expressed his deep anguish at the horrific bus accident in Dergaon and offers his condolences to the bereaved families.

The local administration is providing all necessary support to the injured in this difficult hour.

Prayers for their swift recovery.

— Chief Minister Assam (@CMOfficeAssam) January 3, 2024