Reported by Manoj Kumar Ojha
Doomdooma: Two motorcycle riders were killed on the spot, while a woman sustained critical injuries after a four-wheeler collided with their bike on Samdang Bypass Road in Doomdooma, in Assam’s Tinsukia district, on Saturday evening.
According to local sources, the three victims were travelling on a motorcycle to collect their fortnightly salary from the Samdung office when the speeding four-wheeler rammed into their bike with tremendous force.
“It is an extremely painful incident for the entire tea tribe community. We urge the authorities to ensure proper road safety measures on this busy stretch so that such tragedies do not continue to occur,” said an ATTSA leader present at the spot.
The deceased have been identified as Lajanti Orang and Bikash Orang, both residents of Pavjan village. The injured woman, Kandaro Orang, also hails from the same village.
Locals immediately rushed to the spot and shifted the victims to Tinsukia Medical College and Hospital (TMCH). However, doctors declared Lajanti Orang and Bikash Orang dead on arrival, while Kandaro Orang is reportedly battling for her life with severe injuries.
The accident triggered a tense situation at the bypass as angry residents and local organisations gathered in large numbers, demanding stricter traffic regulations and justice for the victims.
Protesters blocked the bypass road, severely affecting vehicular movement in the area.
“Police teams have been deployed, and efforts are underway to maintain law and order while also conducting a detailed investigation into the accident,” a police official said.
A team from Doomdooma Police Station reached the spot soon after the mishap and seized the vehicles involved.
Preliminary investigations suggest that overspeeding and negligent driving may have led to the fatal collision. However, the bypass road remained blocked by protesters till the filing of this report.
Significantly, just two days ago, two youths were killed in another devastating road mishap on NH-37 near Beesakopie Tea Factory, triggering protests and public outrage over reckless driving and inadequate road safety measures in the area.