A 25-year-old man, who was the conductor of Samdrupjongkhar-Phuentsholing bus, died and two passengers were injured when a public transport bus met with an accident near Rangia in Assam, India, on July 7.

According to sources, the accident occurred around 2:30pm after the bus hit an Indian public transport bus from the rear.

It was learnt that the deceased and the other two victims were brought to Samdrupjongkhar hospital in an Indian ambulance for severe head injury.

Samdrupjongkhar health officials then referred them to Guwahati hospital in Assam, India.

Health officials said the 25-year-old conductor died on the way to Guwahati hospital, succumbing to severe head injury while the other two victims were admitted in the Down Town hospital.

Officials said that a 54-year-old man was suspected to have sustained a head injury and a leg fracture while a 38-year-old man sustained a head injury. “We are waiting for the computed tomography (CT) scan report,” an official said.

Samdrupjongkhar road safety and transport authority (RSTA) officials, along with health officials, arranged the transportation and went to pick up the other passengers as soon as Indian counterparts informed them.

The bus took them to Samdrupjongkhar hospital for a checkup.

Health officials said that they have treated 18 passengers who have sustained minor physical injuries and were sent home later.

A passenger, Thinley, 23, said the bus’s rear-end collided with an Indian bus, smashing its own frontal impact stock. “I feel asleep but I heard our bus hit from the back when the Indian bus travelling in front of our bus stopped suddenly.”

She said two Indian passengers, who were in the Indian bus, were also injured.

Police officials said that Bhutanese drivers travelling along the Indian highway should be cautious and drive slow. “We always inform our Bhutanese travellers to follow the traffic rules and regulations,” an official said.

Kelzang Wangchuk | Samdrupjongkhar