12 killed in Assam road accident, toll likely to rise

Guwahati, Feb 24 (UNI) At least 12 people were killed in a road accident in Sonapur, near Guwahati, early this morning when the night bus they were travelling in fell off from a bridge.

Official sources said all passengers in the bus, barring the handyman, were feared dead. The bus was coming to Guwahati from Silapathar.

So far 12 bodies had been recovered, with rescue operations still on and the toll likely to rise. The ill-fated bus has been retrieved and human error is suspected to be the cause of the accident. There were no female passengers or children in the bus.

The handyman of the bus, the lone survivor so far, said about 15 passengers and two drivers were travelling in the bus at the time of the accident.

The exact number of passengers is not yet known as a few others had boarded the bus on the way and did not have booked tickets.

The handyman had been sent to the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital after first aid at a local hospital.

UNI SG DPM SP RAI1210