KAZIRANGA, Nov 13: The death toll in a road accident at Rangajan near Kaziranga rose to 23 as of 4.45 pm on Friday.
A traveller vehicle travelling from Jorhat towards Nagaon collided with a container truck at Rangajan. The traveller bore registration number AS02 AC 6690, while the truck bore registration number KA01 AT 0977.
More than 35 people were travelling in the vehicle, most of them believed to be college students. The traveller was severely damaged in the collision and several passengers were trapped inside.
The deceased included the traveller's driver, Abdul Majid. Earlier information said six people died at the accident site, four while being shifted to hospital and two during treatment. Two women were among the victims.
The injured were shifted to Shaheed Kamala Miri Civil Hospital. Rescue teams continued efforts to recover passengers trapped inside the damaged vehicle.
Assam Minister Atul Bora visited the site and reviewed the rescue operation. Family members gathered at the accident site and hospitals for information about their relatives.
The circumstances that led to the collision were yet to be established. Police and other authorities were expected to investigate the accident as rescue operations continued. The final casualty figures and identities of all the victims were awaited.
