NH-27 crash concerns have intensified in Assam after seven people died in a collision between a passenger vehicle and a truck near Sonapur. The accident has triggered questions about potholes, maintenance and toll collection.
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi criticised the condition of Assam’s national highways after the incident. He said motorists were paying tolls while facing potholes, injuries and accidents on poorly maintained stretches.
NH-27 crash leaves seven dead
The accident occurred on Sunday evening, August 30, at Tetelia near Sonapur in Kamrup Metropolitan district. Police said a minibus travelling towards Guwahati collided head-on with a truck coming from the opposite direction.
Four people died at the scene. Three others later succumbed to their injuries, taking the death toll to seven. Several injured passengers were taken to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital for treatment.
According to police, the minibus was carrying 14 people, including the driver and handyman. Preliminary information indicated that the vehicle lost control after hitting a large pothole before crossing the divider and striking the oncoming truck. Police are examining the circumstances surrounding the collision.
Gaurav Gogoi questions toll collection
The NH-27 crash prompted Gogoi to renew his criticism of road conditions in Assam. In a post on X on August 31, the Congress leader said the state’s national highways were in poor condition, particularly on the Guwahati-Tinsukia route.
Gogoi said people were effectively receiving “potholes, injuries, accidents and animals crossing the highway” in return for toll money. He also alleged that taxpayers’ money was being wasted through what he described as a “minister-contractor nexus”.
These are political allegations, not established facts. However, they have added to scrutiny of road maintenance and accountability.
Protests follow NH-27 crash
The accident quickly led to protests by local residents. People blocked the highway and raised objections to toll collection, demanding repairs on the damaged stretch around Khetri and Sonapur.
The agitation later reached the Nazirakhat tollgate. Protesters opposed toll collection and called for immediate intervention over the condition of the highway. Traffic movement was disrupted, leaving vehicles stranded for hours.
Residents also alleged that potholes and poor road conditions had contributed to repeated accidents in the area. Their claims have increased pressure on authorities to address road safety concerns on the busy route.
Government orders repairs after accident
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited the accident site on Monday with senior officials. He said a police inquiry had found inadequate highway maintenance and that action would be taken against anyone found responsible.
Sarma announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased person. He also said injured victims would receive free treatment.
The chief minister said the state government had conveyed its concerns to the National Highways Authority of India. According to him, the NHAI chairman assured the government that the affected stretch would be repaired soon.
The response has focused on relief and repairs. The police investigation will determine the precise circumstances and whether negligence or other violations occurred.
NH-27 crash renews wider road safety debate
The NH-27 crash has revived a broader debate over the condition of toll roads in Assam. Gogoi’s latest remarks also echo concerns he raised in 2025, when he urged the Union government to suspend toll collection on damaged highway stretches until repairs were completed.
He had cited potholes, uneven surfaces and waterlogging on NH-27 and NH-37, and called for an audit of toll plazas and maintenance standards.
For now, the Khetri accident has placed immediate attention on the damaged section near Sonapur. Authorities face the task of completing repairs, ensuring safer travel and establishing responsibility through the ongoing inquiry.
The incident has also sharpened the question of whether toll-paying motorists are receiving roads that meet basic safety expectations. As repairs and investigations continue, the focus will remain on preventing another tragedy on NH-27.
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