14 killed as picnic bus collides with truck

At least 14 people were killed and 27 others injured after a bus carrying 45 people collided with a truck at Dergaon in the Indian state of Assam early Wednesday (January 3).

Police said the accident took place when the bus, carrying 45 passengers, was on the way to Tinsukia’s Tilinga Mandir. It collided with a truck in Dergaon.

They said that the picnic party embarked on their journey around 3 am and as they were about to reach their destination, a coal-laden truck coming from Margherita collided with the bus head-on.

Police rushed to the site, rescued the injured passengers and admitted them to the Jorhat Medical College. An official said that several injured people were in a critical condition.

They recovered the bodies of the 14 passengers who died on the spot and sent them for post-mortem examinations. Police are investigating the matter.

(With inputs from agencies)