Assam: 36 killed in two road mishaps

Thirty-six people were killed and 17 others injured in two road mishaps in Assam when a bus carrying a marriage party fell into a pond and an oil tanker caught fire on Tuesday morning.

Thirty one passengers, including 12 women, were killed and six persons critically injured when a bus carrying a marriage party fell into a pond in Kamrup district on Monday night.

The bus, which was travelling from Guwahati to Dihu in Rangia sub-division of the district, fell into the 40 feet deep pond at Rajabari when a wooden bridge it was crossing gave in. Among the killed were the bridegroom Naba Kumar Sarma, his parents and friends.

Three children were also among the victims, said the police. Six passengers were rescued and admitted to Mukundo Kakoti Civil hospital in neighbouring Nalbari district, the police said. The condition of the patients was critical. The bus was taken out of the pond by the police with the help of locals and Army personnel.

In the second accident, five persons were charred to death and 12 others injured when an overturned oil tanker they were collecting oil from burst into flames in Badulipara in Golaghat district early on Tuesday morning.

The tanker going to Jorhat overturned at Badulipura and soon some nearby locals gathered at the spot to collect fuel.

When they were taking out the oil, an overhead wire fell on the tanker which burst into flames, police said.

The locals collecting the fuel were trapped in the blaze, police said, adding five persons were charred to death.

The injured victims have been hospitalised.