Assam Police Issues Guidelines For Picnics After 12 Killed In Road Accident

The Assam Police have issued strict guidelines for picnic parties after a road accident killed 12 in the Golaghat district.

The Assam Police have issued strict guidelines for picnic parties after a road accident killed 12 in the Golaghat district. [Image for Representation]

Source : Getty

Following the tragic road accident in Assam’s Golaghat district early Wednesday morning that claimed the lives of 12 picnic goers and left another 30 injured, the Assam police later in the day issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in a bid to regulate the movement of picnic parties between November and March in the state.

The SOP, shared by the Assam police on microblogging site X, stated, “It is generally observed that picnic parties are organised during the month from November to March in the state. This period is conducive for picnics and people in Assam in large numbers organise such picnics in various picnic spots. In this atmosphere of pomp and gaiety, sadness struck because of road traffic accidents during the vehicular movement of these picnic parties. Hence, it is felt imperative that a Standard Operating Procedure be in place to regulate the movement etc. of these picnic parties.”

According to the SOP, the picnic goers need to ensure that there is no overcrowding in the vehicles they are travelling in. On the other hand, the police restricted any movement of picnic parties before sunrise and after sunset. Moreover, the drivers of the vehicles of the picnic parties have been strictly prohibited from consuming any intoxicant before driving. Additionally, the police barred the picnic parties from playing loud music on the vehicles.

The other guidelines in the SOP are - no trading of illicit liquor is to be allowed in and around the picnic spots, the local police are to conduct continuous raids on the ‘dhabas’ (roadside hotels) where illicit liquors are sold, the local police station should be informed of the origin and destination of travel, the local police should have one surveillance group if required in assistance with Village Defence Parties (VDPs) in every picnic spot which will help to detect any illicit or illegal activity in and around the picnic spots, sufficient lighting facilities should be provided in and around the vulnerable picnic spots, sufficient parking area should be earmarked in every picnic spot, the bus drivers responsible for transportation of picnic parties should be properly briefed and should be in proper footwear, and most importantly, the picnic parties should ensure that no movement takes place during fog.

The Assam police said that the guidelines in the SOP are suggestive in nature and “not exhaustive.” It has been further instructed that the district police, in assistance with the District Transport Office (DTO) and other enforcement agencies, should ensure that no accident takes place and valuable human life is lost. Early on Wednesday, 12 people were killed and 30 others were left injured after a bus, carrying a picnic party, collided head-on with a coal-laden truck at the Balijan area near Dergaon in Assam’s Golaghat district.