One person died and 22 others including 20 BSF jawans received injuries as a bus fell down in a gorge at Umtyrra in East Jaintia Hills on Wednesday.
According to police, the bus was requisitioned by the 93 Bn ‘A’ Coy of Border Security Force (BSF).
The deceased has been identified as J. Gogoi, the civilian helper of the bus.
The two other civilians, who also received injuries, include the civilian drivers – Pranjal Saikia and Baba Gogoi.
All the injured were admitted to the Khliehriat community health centre of Meghalaya.
Lakador Syiem, superintendent of police, East Jaintia Hills, told Northeast Now, “At around 4:30 PM, an overspeeding bus with registration No. AS-05C-2034 went off road and fell in a gorge (approx 100 ft) at Umtyraa in East Jaintia Hills.”
Syiem said, “The said bus was requisitioned by the BSF and around 20 BSF personnel of 93rd Bn boarded the bus.”
“Most of them received serious injuries; however, none succumb to injury. All injured persons have been shifted to Khliehriat CHC.”
The injured BSF personnel have been identified as I. Kulandi Swami (Sub-Inspector), Dinesh Kumar, Head Constable (HC), Anil Kumar Sharma (HC), Yash Pal (HC), Pawan Kumar (HC), J. Kerketta (HC) and H. Baxala.
The constables, who also boarded the bus and received injuries, are Balwinder Singh, Purushottam Lal, S.K. Pandey, Yamanappa, B.J. Kalita, Raventa Ram, M.S. Molla, Raju Sah, M. Dipesh Panguv, Mohan Lal Meena, Pramod Kumar, J.N. Tiwari and constable (cook) Kuldeep Singh.
The BSF from Jowai is in the process of evacuating the seriously injured persons to Shillong for treatment.
As per media reports, the BSF personnel were returning to their base from NRC duty at Jagiroad in Assam’s Morigaon district and were on the way towards Silchar via Meghalaya.
The team was moving towards their base in two civil buses, 3 other heavy vehicles and one Bolero.
But one of the buses met with a mishap as it skidded off the National Highway NH 6 at Umtyrra.