52 killed, 27 injured in Asom road mishap

Guwahati, Apr 20 (UNI) At least 52 people drowned when a bus carrying a marriage party fell into a river near Sarupeta in Barpeta district of lower Asom late last night, police said today.

''As the bus was travelling on a village road, it fell into a river while trying to cross a bridge,'' Additional Superintendent of Police Jiban Singh said while confirming the incident, one of the worst mishaps in Asom in recent times.

Among the dead were 24 women and 10 children. The bus was packed to the capacity and the marriage party was travelling from nearby Sorbhog town to the bride's house near Sarupeta. The accident occurred about two kilometres from the bride's house and the groom is in hospital in a critical condition.

Villagers rushed to the spot immediately and rescued 27 injured people from the bus which was completely immersed in water. Darkness and heavy rains hamstrung their efforts and this morning 47 bodies were recovered after the bus was raised.

The bus had alomost crossed the small bridge, when the soil, softened by heavy overnight rain, gave in resulting in the vehicle plunging ten feet into the ditch, police said.

Some of the injured were shifted to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital(GMCH).

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