Seven people, including a child, were killed when an ambulance collided with a truck on National Highway 15 near Dhikiajuli in Assam’s Sonitpur on Sunday evening, police said on Monday, adding that the truck driver was on the run.
The accident occurred at 8 pm near Rabartola-Alicingha area, when the ambulance, carrying a patient and his family members from Tulip Tea Farm, was on its way to Tezpur Medical College and Hospital.
Six people died on the spot, while two others were taken to the community health center in Dikyajuli. One of them later died during treatment, said Barun Purkayastha, senior police inspector of Sonitpur.
He added: “Our team arrived at the scene immediately and all the injured were transferred to the community health center in Dikyajuli, where doctors declared six people dead. One person later died during treatment.”
The victims were identified as Vijay Hansa (driver), Hari Madji, Kunal Karmakar, Sangeeta Nath, Bishwajit Nath and Sandhyachari Nath. The identity of the seventh victim has not yet been officially confirmed.
Purkayastha said the ambulance was operated by Tulip Tea Estate and was transporting a critically ill patient along with his relatives. “They were all coming from Tulip Tea Estate to receive treatment when the accident happened,” he said.
The police said that rescue teams arrived at the site after receiving information and carried out an operation to remove the victims from the car.
A police officer said: “Our teams carried out rescue operations and opened the road. The injured were transported without delay.”
Preliminary investigation suggests that the truck was passing through the Dhikiajuli stretch, allegedly avoiding toll gates on the Nagaon-Tezpur road. “The truck has been seized. The driver and worker have fled the scene and are being traced,” Barun Purkayastha said.
The accident led to a traffic jam along the highway for several hours, police said, adding that further investigations were underway.
