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Monday, Feb 25, 2008
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Twelve die as bus falls into stream

Special Correspondent

Search on for two missing persons; magisterial probe ordered

— Photo: AP

THE REMAINS: The bus that plunged into the stream being pulled out at Sonapur on Sunday.

Guwahati: Twelve passengers died early on Sunday when a bus bound for the city veered off the National Highway No. 37 and plunged into a stream at Sonapur, about 25km from the city.

The bus was coming from Silapathar in Dhemaji district. Police said that one of two drivers and a passenger were missing. The driver at the wheel at the time of the accident and the handyman survived by jumping out just before the bus fell into the stream at around 4.30 a.m.

Divers of the Rapid Action Team of the National Disaster Response Force based at Patgaon recovered 12 bodies and search was on for the two missing persons.

The State government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh to the next of kin of each of the deceased, while the Kamprup (Metropolitan) district administration announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5000 each.

The district administration has ordered a magisterial probe.

Local residents said that there was no warning sign on the highway which was being expanded as part of the East West Corridor project and this could have caused the accident

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