<p>Thirty-one people were killed and 16 injured as a speeding truck hit a small passenger vehicle and dragged it backwards, hitting another small vehicle, in Barpeta district on Thursday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Both passenger vehicles overturned under the impact of the collision, leading to the death of 28 people on the spot. Police said three others died later in hospital. <br />Among the deceased were 12 children, eight women and the drivers of the two passenger vehicles, police said. <br /><br />The accident occurred at Dahlapara in Barpeta, around 150 km from state capital Guwahati, around 4:30 am on Thursday. <br /><br />“The 16 injured are under treatment at hospitals in Guwahati, Barpeta and Bongaigaon. The condition of five is critical,” police said. <br /><br />Police said many of the victims were workers at brick kilns and from Dhubri district. They were on their way to Rangia, 60 km west of Guwahati.<br /><br />Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi ordered an inquiry into the accident and announced <br />ex gratia payment of Rs 1 lakh to the kin of each of the victims. <br /><br />Gogoi also visited some of the injured at Barpeta Medical College and Hospital.<br />The chief minister directed authorities to strictly enforce speed limits, prevent rash driving and overloading of passengers and goods on vehicles. <br /><br />He also said that proper and periodic verification of driving licences be made to prevent such accidents in future. <br /><br />In a message, Assam GovernorJ B Patnaik expressed his “deepest condolences to the victims of the tragic road accident” and wished speedy recovery to the injured.<br /></p>
<p>Thirty-one people were killed and 16 injured as a speeding truck hit a small passenger vehicle and dragged it backwards, hitting another small vehicle, in Barpeta district on Thursday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Both passenger vehicles overturned under the impact of the collision, leading to the death of 28 people on the spot. Police said three others died later in hospital. <br />Among the deceased were 12 children, eight women and the drivers of the two passenger vehicles, police said. <br /><br />The accident occurred at Dahlapara in Barpeta, around 150 km from state capital Guwahati, around 4:30 am on Thursday. <br /><br />“The 16 injured are under treatment at hospitals in Guwahati, Barpeta and Bongaigaon. The condition of five is critical,” police said. <br /><br />Police said many of the victims were workers at brick kilns and from Dhubri district. They were on their way to Rangia, 60 km west of Guwahati.<br /><br />Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi ordered an inquiry into the accident and announced <br />ex gratia payment of Rs 1 lakh to the kin of each of the victims. <br /><br />Gogoi also visited some of the injured at Barpeta Medical College and Hospital.<br />The chief minister directed authorities to strictly enforce speed limits, prevent rash driving and overloading of passengers and goods on vehicles. <br /><br />He also said that proper and periodic verification of driving licences be made to prevent such accidents in future. <br /><br />In a message, Assam GovernorJ B Patnaik expressed his “deepest condolences to the victims of the tragic road accident” and wished speedy recovery to the injured.<br /></p>