3 burnt alive, 2 critical as vehicle hits pole in Assam's Nagaon
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Three people were burnt to death and two others sustained critical injuries on Thursday after a vehicle caught fire following a collision with a streetlight pole in Nagaon district, Assam, police said. The accident took place at Kenapatty near the Puranigudam locality, and the victims were reportedly travelling from Arunachal Pradesh towards Guwahati.
How the Accident Unfolded
The vehicle, bearing registration number AR 01 W 5107, was heading towards Guwahati when the driver allegedly lost control and crashed into a streetlight pole installed in the middle of the road. The impact immediately triggered a fire that rapidly engulfed the vehicle. Three occupants were trapped inside and were unable to escape; they died at the spot from severe burn injuries. Preliminary information indicates that the three deceased had reportedly boarded the vehicle midway through the journey, and officials are still working to establish their identities.
The Injured and Their Condition
Two survivors, identified as Vikas Kumar and Sonu Kumar, sustained serious injuries and were initially rushed for emergency treatment before being transferred to a hospital in Guwahati, where their condition was reported as critical. According to police, the vehicle was owned by Vikas Kumar, while Sonu Kumar was reportedly at the wheel at the time of the crash. Officials said the occupants were reportedly from Bihar.
Scene at the Spot
The accident triggered panic among residents of the area. Local residents and emergency personnel rushed to the site after the vehicle caught fire. The bodies of the three deceased were subsequently recovered from the wreckage, and further legal procedures are being carried out, police said.
Investigation Under Way
Police and district authorities have launched an investigation to determine the precise sequence of events. Investigators are examining whether speeding, loss of control, prevailing road conditions, or any other factor contributed to the crash and the subsequent fire. Officials said more details, including the exact identities of the three deceased and the confirmed cause of the fire, would emerge as the probe progresses. The presence of the streetlight pole in the middle of the road is also expected to come under scrutiny during the investigation.