At least 24 people have been killed after a bus collided with a container truck on a highway near Kaziranga National Park in the northeastern Indian state of Assam. Local authorities said 11 others were injured in the crash on Friday, November 13.
Crash near UNESCO World Heritage site
The collision took place on a road close to Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its one-horned rhinos, about 140 miles east of the state capital, Dispur. Officials said children and the bus driver were among those who died.
Officials respond to the tragedy
State minister Atul Bora described the crash as one of the worst in Assam’s history and said police were investigating the cause of the collision. Bora said witnesses reported that the bus was speeding before the crash. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on X that he was “deeply distressed by the tragic accident.”
India has one of the highest rates of road fatalities in the world, with reckless driving, poorly maintained roads and aging vehicles as major factors.
