Bad weather claims 27 in road accidents in NE

Guwahati, Jan 30 (UNI) At least 27 people were killed in three road accidents in the North East in the past 24 hours as bad weather and dense fog crippled traffic all over the region.

Two of the accidents--one each in Meghalaya and Assam--occurred early in the morning when fog and rain disrupted visibility throughout the region. The third accident took place last night near Numaligarh in Assam.

In Meghalaya near Mawryngkneng village an Assam State Transport Corporation(ASTC) bus fell into a deep gorge killing 12 people on the spot and injuring 24.

In the other incident, 10 persons, including seven women of a marriage party, died near Dhekiajuli, about 125 km from here at around 0300 hours.

According to Meghalaya DIG Eastern Range DK Rapthap, the night super bus, travelling from Guwahati to Silchar, fell into the gorge around 0400 hours. The mishap took place near Mawryngkneng village, 37 km east of capital Shillong. The driver of the ill-fated bus was also killed in the accident. Amongst the casualties were four women.

Meanwhile, a report from Silchar said most of the passengers were junior doctors of the Silchar Medical College.

Till now the wreckage had not been recovered as inclement weather, coupled with cold wind and rain, hampered rescue operation.

Police suspect that more bodies were trapped inside the wreckage. A crane has been called in to assist in the rescue operation.

In the other incident, a vehicle carrying a marriage party collided head on with a speeding bus near Dhekiajuli in Assam. The accident occurred at 0300 hours when the marriage party, after dropping the bride at the groom's place, returned.

All ten passengers of the car died while 16 people of the bus received injuries. They were travelling from Orang to Tezpur and the accident took place at Gajennagar. Six of the injured were battling for life and they were shifted to Guwahati Medical College (GMC) after initial treatment at Tezpur civil hospital.

The third incident occurred at Numaligarh near the Assam-Nagaland border when a speeding Tata Sumo hit a stationary truck killing all five inmates. Details of this incident are awaited.

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