4 killed, 30 injured as oil tanker overturns, explodes in Assam

Four persons were charred to death and more than 30 injured when an oil tanker turned turtle and exploded on NH 37 in Assam’s Golaghat district late Monday night.

The driver of the oil tanker, bound for Upper Assam’s Digboi from Guwahati, reportedly lost control of the vehicle which overturned near Rangaliting tea estate under Dergaon police station, a police officer said.

The tanker exploded resulting in oil leakage and a devastating fire which led to the death of three persons on the spot, while another succumbed to his injuries in the hospital today, the official said.

At least nine houses, mostly belonging to tea garden labourers near the highway, were completely gutted in the fire.

The dead include an elderly couple and a nine-year-old girl, the police officer said.

Meanwhile, Assam agriculture minister Atul Bora visited the area and announced an ex-gratia of Rs four lakh to the next of kin of the deceased, a government official said.