In the wake of a devastating collision between a night bus and an ambulance that claimed three lives, the Tinsukia District Road Safety Committee convened an emergency meeting on Wednesday to address the escalating road safety crisis. Chaired by District Commissioner Swapneel Paul, the high-level session was held at the District Commissioner’s office, focusing on reviewing the causes of recent accidents and formulating urgent preventive measures.
The tragic accident occurred early Tuesday morning on NH-37 near Hukanpukhuri in Makum. An ambulance, transporting 15 individuals including patients and attendants from Powai Tea Estate, collided head-on with a night bus headed towards Makum. The impact resulted in the immediate deaths of two adults, Gobin Bhuyan and his wife Minju Bhuyan. A third victim succumbed to injuries en route to the hospital. Twelve injured individuals were rushed for medical treatment, with several requiring advanced care at Assam Medical College.
The emergency meeting saw participation from senior officials including Tinsukia SSP Mayank Kumar, Additional SP Nishant Saurabh, the District Transport Officer, and representatives from NHIDCL and major road construction companies. The Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department contributed to discussions on critical infrastructure improvements needed along accident-prone highways.
District Commissioner Swapneel Paul emphasised the urgency of implementing robust safety protocols. “Our priority is to work together to enhance road safety, enforce traffic regulations strictly, and implement engineering solutions to reduce accidents,” he stated during the proceedings.
The committee finalised several immediate action points, including intensified night enforcement drives against speeding and an urgent audit of accident-prone zones by PWD and NHIDCL to address issues like poor signage and inadequate lighting.
SSP Mayank Kumar said, “There will be zero tolerance for traffic violations. We will augment our night patrols and deploy additional checkpoints, alongside a public awareness campaign on road safety rules.”
