Bus and truck crash in Assam kills at least 24
Several of the dead are believed to be college students, and officials say the crash is being investigated. The incident has renewed concern about road safety across India.
Key points
- At least 24 people died and 11 others were injured in Assam, north-east India.
- The crash happened near Kaziranga National Park, a Unesco World Heritage site.
- Assam's rural development minister said several of the dead are college students.
- Witnesses suggested one vehicle may have been speeding; an investigation will determine the cause.
- India recorded 183,382 road deaths in 2025, according to figures cited in the report.
At least 24 people have died after a bus collided with a truck in the Indian state of Assam, according to BBC News. Eleven others were injured in the crash, which took place near Kaziranga National Park in north-east India. The injured have been taken to Jorhat Medical College and Hospital for treatment.
Assam’s rural development minister, Atul Bora, said several of the dead appear to be college students. Their names had not been made public at the time of reporting. Bora also said witnesses believed one of the vehicles may have been travelling too fast, but he stressed that the exact cause will only be known after an investigation.
Chief minister responds
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma posted a message on X, saying the scale of the loss has affected everyone in the state. He said the most urgent task was making sure the injured receive high-quality medical care without delay.
Travelling out of Bokakhat, the vehicle was bound for Nagaon with people on board. Bokakhat is the usual gateway to Kaziranga, a Unesco World Heritage site known for its one-horned rhinoceroses. Nagaon is an important farming and trading centre in central Assam, lying about 120 km, or 74.5 miles, west of Bokakhat by road.
Calls for action on road safety
Lurinjyoti Gogoi, who leads a regional opposition group, argued that safety on the roads has been a longstanding issue across Assam. He urged the administration to treat the matter with much greater seriousness.
The crash also sits within a much larger national problem. Road accidents cause thousands of deaths in India every year. In 2023, about 172,000 people died on Indian roads, which averages 474 deaths a day, or roughly one every three minutes. The total rose to 183,382 in 2025.
Why the problem persists
Experts quoted in the reporting say the roots of the crisis go beyond road infrastructure. They point to human behaviour, gaps in enforcement of traffic rules and wider systemic neglect as contributing factors.
The source reports do not confirm the speed of either vehicle or the precise sequence of events. Officials have not yet publicly identified the victims, and the investigation is expected to examine the collision in detail before any conclusions are drawn.
Frequently asked questions
How many people died in the Assam bus crash?
At least 24 people have died, and 11 others were injured, according to BBC News. The report notes that several of the dead are believed to be college students.
Where did the bus crash happen?
The crash happened near Kaziranga National Park in Assam, north-east India. The bus was travelling from Bokakhat towards Nagaon when the collision occurred.
What caused the crash?
The cause has not been confirmed. Witnesses reported that one of the vehicles may have been speeding, but officials say the exact reason will be known only after an investigation.
Sources
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