Assam CM announces Rs 9 lakh aid for families of Kaziranga crash victims

Guwahati, 14 November 2026 – Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on 14 November a compensation of Rs 9 lakh for the next of kin of every person killed in the fatal road collision near Kaziranga in Golaghat district. The announcement, reported by The Sentinel Assam, also included an order for a separate post-mortem examination of the traveller driver, Abdul Mujid, to determine whether a medical emergency contributed to the crash that occurred on 13 November.

Compensation package

The Chief Minister detailed that the Rs 9 lakh assistance will be drawn from three sources. The Chief Minister's Relief Fund will provide Rs 5 lakh per bereaved family, the Prime Minister's Relief Fund will contribute Rs 2 lakh, and the Assam Revenue Department will add another Rs 2 lakh. Together, these contributions total the announced amount for each of the families of the 26 victims, offering financial support to those who lost a loved one in the accident.

Post-mortem investigation

In addition to the financial relief, Sarma directed that specialist doctors conduct a separate post-mortem on Abdul Mujid, the driver of the traveller involved in the collision. The medical examination will focus on whether Mujid, who is reported to have diabetes, suffered a sudden drop in blood-sugar levels or a cardiac arrest before the accident. The findings are intended to clarify if either condition played a role in the crash. No conclusion on the driver’s medical state has been released so far, and the results will be incorporated into the broader investigation of the incident.

Details of the collision

The accident took place on Friday, 13 November, at approximately 3:15 pm near the Hathikuli Tea Estate on National Highway 715 in the Rangajan area of Golaghat district. A minibus traveling towards Nagaon collided head-on with a container truck heading towards Upper Assam. The impact claimed 26 lives and left around 20 passengers injured. The incident has prompted questions about the circumstances leading to the collision, including the possibility of a medical emergency involving the driver, which the ordered post-mortem aims to investigate.

Government response

The compensation announcement and the medical inquiry were made a day after the crash, reflecting the state government's dual approach of providing immediate financial assistance while also seeking a clearer understanding of the factors that caused the tragedy. Authorities continue to assess the full scope of the event and to provide support to the affected families.