Dense winter fog continues to pose significant threats to road safety in Assam, a situation highlighted by a recent tragic incident at Yogi Ghopa–Boalimari in Bongaigaon district. On Sunday at midnight, a four-wheeled vehicle lost control, ultimately plunging into the Champabati river, leading to a fatal outcome. Among the four individuals in the vehicle, driver Akidul Islam and passenger Jubbar Ali managed to survive, while Bokkar Ali was pronounced dead after his body was recovered. Azahar Ali Mondal, another passenger, remains missing.
The group, returning home to Barpeta after visiting a local fair, faced peril on the Kabaitari–Shalbhari stretch where their vehicle, with registration number AS-26-J-4352, skidded off the road. Contributing factors to the accident appear to include both the heavy fog and high speed; however, police investigations are ongoing to determine the precise causation.
Survivor Jubbar Ali offered a harrowing account of the moments leading up to the crash, describing a sudden and violent swerve of the vehicle as they reached Boalimari, where the deceased had taken over the steering. Although he and the driver managed to escape, they were unable to discern the fates of their companions amidst the surrounding darkness and fog.
In the aftermath of the accident, police forces from Yogi Ghopa station, along with personnel from the Majer Alga outpost and SDRF teams, promptly responded to the scene. Divers were deployed to locate the submerged vehicle and search the waters of the Champabati river. Despite successfully recovering Bokkar Ali’s body, efforts to find Azahar Ali Mondal continue.
The incident raises pressing questions about the conditions leading to the crash, particularly whether the dense fog was the sole contributor or if other elements were at play. A comprehensive investigation has been initiated by the police to uncover the underlying reasons for this tragic event, with conclusive findings awaited.
