Kaziranga Highway Collision Leaves Over 10 Dead, Many Injured

KAZIRANGA, ASSAM — A devastating head-on collision on National Highway 37 near Rongajan in Assam’s Kaziranga district has left at least 10 to 12 people dead and over twenty others severely injured. The tragic accident occurred around 3:15 PM when a Force Traveller carrying more than 35 passengers—including several students—collided violently with an oncoming heavy trailer truck. The force of the impact completely crushed the front half of the passenger minibus, scattering glass and wreckage across both lanes of the highway.

Local commuters and residents living along the highway were the first to respond, pulling injured passengers from the wreckage before emergency service teams arrived. Specialized rescue personnel equipped with hydraulic cutters were required to extract several victims trapped within the mangled metal framework of the minibus. The injured were swiftly transported to Kohora Model Hospital and nearby medical facilities, where doctors report several individuals remain in critical condition.

Authorities have closed off the segment of NH-37 to facilitate clearance operations and launch an investigation into the cause of the fatal crash. Preliminary police reports indicate that poor visibility, compounded by high speeds along the narrow stretch of the highway, may have contributed to the collision. Eyewitnesses reported seeing the heavy trailer truck attempting an overtake on a curve just seconds before striking the oncoming minibus. Highway patrol officers have impounded both vehicles and taken the truck driver into custody to test for impairment and record an official statement.

The tragic event has prompted severe traffic gridlock spanning several kilometers along National Highway 37, a vital transit artery connecting upper and lower Assam. Traffic management personnel have established temporary detours through local secondary roads to bypass the crash site, while heavy cranes work to clear the heavy debris and restore normal flow along the primary corridor.

Assam’s Chief Minister expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims and announced monetary relief for the deceased's next of kin, alongside free medical treatment for all injured passengers. Local transport union leaders and road safety advocates have renewed calls for double-laning and strict speed enforcement along the Kaziranga highway corridor, which has seen a rising frequency of fatal collisions in recent years.

The community is left grappling with the aftermath of this tragedy, highlighting the urgent need for improved road safety measures in the region. As investigations continue, the focus remains on preventing such devastating incidents in the future.

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