23 Killed in Bus, Container Truck Collision in India

A head-on collision between a container truck and a passenger bus killed at least 23 people, including three children, in eastern India, according to a police official. 

The accident occurred on Friday along a highway bordering Kaziranga National Park in the northeastern state of Assam.

The local district police chief, Swapneel Deka, confirmed the death toll, putting the number of victims at 23.

“The total number of casualties is 23,” Swapneel Deka said. 

The road is a designated animal corridor, where strict speed limits are in place.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed sadness over the incident, saying the loss of lives had deeply affected the state. 

“The scale of this loss has shaken all of us, and my heart goes out to every family that has lost a loved one,” Sarma said. 

He also extended his condolences to the families of those killed.

India, which has a population of about 1.4 billion, recorded more than 183,000 road traffic deaths in 2025, according to the country’s roads ministry. This represents an average of more than 500 fatalities daily.

Official data attributes many road accidents in the country to inadequate road infrastructure, poorly maintained vehicles and driver fatigue.