Nagaland CM announces Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for Kohima bus accident victims
Dimapur: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Sunday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the five people who died in a road mishap in Kohima on Saturday night.
He also announced financial assistance of Rs 50,000 each for those seriously injured.
Rio extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.
Kohima police PRO, in a release on Sunday, said five members of the Chumoukedima Ao Baptist Church, travelling in a private bus, were killed in a road mishap at 10th Mile Road under the Chiephobozou police station in Kohima district on Saturday night.
The incident occurred when the bus, carrying 32 members of the church, was returning from a revival programme in Mokokchung and overturned at the location.
Police said all the deceased were females and were declared dead at the spot.
Their bodies were retrieved from the accident site and handed over to their families after completion of all necessary legal formalities, the release added.
The remaining passengers, who sustained minor injuries, were promptly shifted to the Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research, Dimapur.
On receipt of information at around 8.20 pm, a joint team of the Kohima district administration, Chiephobozou police station, and Kohima traffic police immediately rushed to the spot to assess the situation and initiate emergency response.
Police said a preliminary investigation at the scene ruled out rash or drunken driving as causes.
The bus is believed to have developed a mechanical snag, leading to the accident. A detailed technical examination is underway.
The Kohima police acknowledged the swift and compassionate assistance rendered by volunteers from the Northern Angami Youth Organisation and the Tsiesema village youth, who provided crucial on-ground support during the rescue and relief operations.
Further investigation into the exact cause of the accident is ongoing, the release added.