Assam: Three killed in horrific ambulance-bus collision on Makum-Tinsukia highway

Guwahati: A deadly road accident at Hukhan Pukhuri, Makum, resulted in the loss of three lives on Monday evening in Upper Assam's Tinsukia district.

This brings the total number of fatalities in road accidents in the district to seven.

A local resident at the accident site said, "This Makum–Tinsukia stretch is 100% dangerous. The national highway and the railway track are so close that even a slight swerve can cause a serious accident. Poor planning of both routes is the main reason."

Another commuter added, "If the authorities introduce even a small separation between the two routes, the number of accidents will drop significantly. Human life must be prioritized."

The crash involved a Tinsukia-bound ambulance and a night super bus heading from Guwahati to Namsai. The collision left the ambulance completely damaged.

According to reports, three occupants of the ambulance died instantly, while several passengers on the bus suffered injuries. Rescuers transferred the injured to nearby hospitals for treatment. The identities of the deceased are yet to be confirmed.

Traffic movement on the Makum–Tinsukia Highway (Number 37) was disrupted for nearly an hour as police and local volunteers carried out rescue operations.

Residents of the area have repeatedly raised concerns about the highly unsafe highway section, where the road runs almost parallel to a railway track, leaving no room for error for vehicles traveling at night.

Police have launched an investigation to determine whether speeding, poor night-time visibility, or road design contributed to the tragedy.

In a related incident, three youths were killed in a road mishap at Bordirak on Saturday evening.

A child was killed in a road accident yesterday at Bordumsa-Kathathalguri, near Dibrujan village.

Accidents are rising across Assam these days.