Survivors: Minibus was overcrowded, speeding
Silchar, Nov. 14 -- "The vehicle had too many passengers. Around 50% of them were standing, and even the cabin space, which was supposed to be free, was filled with passengers," said 30-year-old Moksudul Islam, one of the survivors of Friday's Kaziranga accident that claimed 26 lives.
Islam, a resident of Golaghat who works for a construction company, was travelling in the minibus with four co-workers. He claimed the vehicle, which was equipped to carry around 30, was carrying at least 60. "I was sitting at the back, which is why I was lucky to survive".
Islam sustained a head injury in the collision but was discharged after receiving initial treatment. Another passenger alleged that the vehicle was overloaded and travelling at nearly 100 kmph.
Recalling the moments before the collision, he said it suddenly lost control, crossed into the wrong lane and hit the oncoming truck.
"It was at high speed when it suddenly lost control, crossed into the wrong lane and hit the oncoming truck. I was sitting beside the window and saw it happen. I was so scared that I thought I would die," he said.
The driver of the trailer, who was also injured in the crash, gave a similar account of the collision, claiming that the minibus suddenly entered his lane and rammed into the truck while he was driving on his proper side of the road.
Speaking to the media, the driver, whose identity has not yet been confirmed, said: "I was coming this way from Tezpur and I was driving on the proper side. This vehicle suddenly came from the opposite direction. On such a wide road, it came directly into our lane and slammed straight into us, a direct head-on collision". "It came at such a high speed, it's beyond words."
He added that he sustained injuries to his hand and other parts of his body....
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