Road accidents claim 22 lives in Assam

Guwahati, Jan 30 (UNI) At least 22 people were killed and 52 seriously injured in two separate road accidents in Assam early today.

At least 12 people were killed and 28 others severely injured when a Silchar-bound Assam State Transports Corporation (ASTC) bus fell into a gorge, about 40 km from Shillong. The occupants of the bus were all junior doctors on the way to Silchar Medical College Hospital.

According to survivors, the bus driver lost control and fell into the gorge at around 1130 hrs. However, it took a long time for the information to reach the passersby and the police, thereby delaying the rescue operations to begin.

The injured had been taken to the Shillong hospital, police sources informed.

In another accident, at least ten people were killed and 24 others seriously injured when a Nalbari-bound bus was hit from behind by a speeding truck near Dhekiajuli in Sonitpur district at 0300 hrs.

The injured had been admitted to the Tezpur civil hospital.

UNI MT LL KD SSC1303