Assam: Biker killed as LPG cylinder-laden truck hits bike in Digboi

Digboi: A 30-year-old youth was killed on Thursday afternoon when an LPG cylinder-laden truck operated by Saraswati Indane Gramin Vitarak hit him while riding a bike on NH 38 near Tingrai Bazar under Digboi police station in Assam's Tinsukia district.

The victim, identified as Nilkamal Chetiya (30), was immediately rushed to Digboi CHC but was later referred to Dibrugarh for advanced treatment. Sadly, he succumbed to his injuries en route.

Chetiya, a resident of Chiring Sapori in Dibrugarh, was returning home on his motorcycle when the collision happened.

The truck, heading towards the nearby Gopeneri Bottling Plant for refilling, struck the biker who was traveling in the same direction. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene, leaving the LPG cylinders behind.

The police later seized the empty LPG cylinders, but their possession was allowed to be shifted to ensure uninterrupted service to consumers.

Local traffic officials suspect that Chetiya may have attempted to overtake the vehicle on the wrong side of the road, where road construction work had recently been completed.

Following a postmortem, Chetiya's last rites were conducted on Friday afternoon.

Police are investigating the incident and are yet to ascertain the exact cause. They are also awaiting an FIR from the victim's family.

The incident has raised concerns about road safety in the area. Police records indicate that the prevalence of substance abuse among drivers of LPG transport vehicles in Digboi is a contributing factor to accidents.

Additionally, the ongoing road construction work, characterized by narrow passages and unsafe culvert layouts, has been identified as a potential cause of accidents in the area.