A rescue worker carries an injured passenger from the accident site in Jorabat on Sunday. Picture by UB Photos

Guwahati, Dec. 15: A woman passenger was killed and 17 others injured when a night superbus heading to Guwahati from Lakhimpur fell into a 70-feet-deep gorge at Ghanashyam Basti in Jorabat this morning.

According to police, the accident took place because the bus was speeding. “It was the driver’s fault. He was driving the bus (bearing registration number AS01S 6147) at a high speed and lost control. The accident took place around 5.30am,” the police said.

The victim has been identified as Rani Borgohain, 62, a schoolteacher and poet, who was coming to the city to participate in a poets’ meet here. “Her husband was also in the bus. He received minor injuries,” the police said.

The police said besides Rani, 17 more passengers were wounded.

Local residents rushed to the accident site, helped the injured and sent 15 of them, including Rani’s husband, to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital by Mritunjoy 108.

The driver and handyman are absconding and an FIR has been filed against the duo.

The bus would have fallen deeper into the gorge had it not hit a tree on the slant. The upper part of the chassis of the bus was damaged by the collision.

Sources said thick fog in the area could have also led to the accident. Jorabat has been identified as a high accident-prone area because of the hills and curvy road.

Every year a number of accidents are reported from the area.

The police requested bus drivers to be careful during winter. “Every year, several road accidents take place in winter because of thick fog. The drivers should be very careful during this season,” a police officer said.

Ramen Talukdar, superintendent of the GMCH, said 15 injured passengers were brought to the hospital. “Of them, 14 passengers, who suffered minor injuries, were discharged after first aid. One of them has been admitted and his condition is stable,” said Talukdar.