Golaghat (Assam), 13 November (H.S.): The death toll in the devastating road accident at Rangajan in Kaziranga has risen to 25, with two more injured persons, including a student, succumbing to their injuries while undergoing treatment at Jorhat Medical College and Hospital (JMCH). Assam Minister Atul Bora confirmed the development while speaking to the media after visiting JMCH on Friday.

Earlier, the Golaghat District Commissioner had reported that 23 people had died at the accident site and at hospitals in Kohora and Golaghat. With the death of two more injured persons at JMCH, the overall toll has now reached 25.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, who was on a visit to Biswanath district, expressed deep grief over the tragedy and announced that he would visit the accident site on Saturday. He also took stock of the situation and enquired about the affected families.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed profound sorrow over the accident in a post on social media platform X and wished a speedy recovery to those injured. He announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and ₹50,000 each to the injured from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and former Congress president Sonia Gandhi also expressed grief over the tragedy.

According to unofficial information, around 17 injured persons have been admitted to JMCH, of whom three are undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in critical condition.

The post-mortem examinations of the deceased will be conducted at Golaghat District Hospital on Saturday. Minister Dr. Ranoj Pegu said that teams of doctors from Guwahati and JMCH would also reach Golaghat to assist in the post-mortem process.

Meanwhile, the district administration and health department are continuing efforts to ensure proper medical treatment for the injured and make necessary arrangements in the aftermath of the tragedy.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash