A speeding Force Traveller minibus carrying dozens of passengers, mostly college and school students, lost control and slammed head-on into a container truck on National Highway-715 near Assam's Kaziranga National Park on Friday, killing at least 26 people.
Local emergency response teams scrambled to the crash site at Rongajan, situated near the Hathikuli tea estate in Golaghat district. The impact pulverized the front compartment of the minibus, pinning multiple passengers beneath crushed steel frames. Nine ambulances rushed to the stretch to pull survivors from the wreckage and transfer them to nearby hospitals for emergency trauma care, according to the Golaghat Executive Magistrate.
Dashcam footage captured the fatal sequence in real time. The two-second clip recorded the minibus hurtling down the highway before skidding sharply into the opposite lane, careening straight into the path of an oncoming freight container before a flash obscured the frame.
The Force Traveller was operating along an ecologically sensitive transit corridor where strict vehicular speed limits apply. The impact proved catastrophic.
"The vehicle was moving at a very high speed and had allegedly violated traffic restrictions imposed along the Kaziranga stretch," said Assam Cabinet Minister Atul Bora, pointing to systemic disregard for corridor speed limits established to protect local wildlife and commuting traffic alike.
Authorities have confirmed the identities of 14 victims so far. Among the deceased are the minibus driver, Abdul Mujid, and the vehicle's handyman, Subhash. Officials also identified 12-year-old Anurag Goala, alongside Jyoti Majhi, Darpana Majhi, Rashid Ali, Hafiza Khatun, Farhana Yasmin, K R Lobho, Amjad Ali, Bulbul Ali, Baby Karmakar, Damini Ghatowar, and Dipanjali Rongphar.
Database audits show the passenger vehicle operated under a persistent pattern of regulatory defaults prior to Friday's fatal collision.
Official transport records indicate the Force Traveller had accumulated more than 10 traffic challans before the crash. While owners cleared ₹38,500 in accrued fines across earlier enforcement actions, an additional ₹4,000 in compounding penalties remained unpaid at the time of the collision.
| Vehicle Parameter | Official Record Details |
|---|---|
| Incident Location | NH-715, Rongajan near Hathikuli Tea Estate, Golaghat |
| Vehicle Type | Force Traveller Minibus |
| Fatalities Confirmed | At least 26 dead |
| Prior Traffic Challans | Over 10 recorded violations |
| Fines Paid / Pending | ₹38,500 settled / ₹4,000 outstanding |
| Emergency Response | 9 ambulances deployed by Golaghat District Administration |
Medical teams across Golaghat district hospitals continue to treat the injured survivors, while transport department inspectors and district police complete post-mortem formalities and examine mechanical debris to finalize the official investigation report.