NALBARI, Dec 17 - An uneasy calm prevailed at Sonkani village in Nalbari district following the death of six members of a family in a tragic road accident at Balikuchi village last night. When the bodies of the six persons including four women and a child were brought to the village this afternoon after post-mortem, a pall of gloom descended on the village. Hundreds of people gathered at the house to pay their last respects to the deceased.
It may be mentioned here that all the six members of a family were killed when the Maruti Alto in which the family was returning home skidded of into a roadside ditch at Balikuchi last night. The deceased have been identified as Somoram Talukdar, his wife Barada Talukdar, their three daughters Rumi Talukdar ( married), Pragati Talukdar, Pampi Talukdar and a minor girl.
According to sources, the vehicle fell into the deep waters of the pond and not a single person managed to come out alive. Later, the local people arrived at the spot and pulled out all the six bodies from the vehicle. It may be mentioned here that the ill-fated family was returning from Balitara village where their daughter Rumi Talukdar was married off. The accident took place just four kilometres away from their home.
It may be noted here that Rumi Talukdar who was also killed with her daughter in the accident is the wife of Pramod Kalita who is presently working as the Secretary of the Assam Publication Board. The body of Rumi and her 10-year-old girl was brought to Balitara village near Dhamdhama where they were cremated. On the other hand, the bodies of Somoram Talukdar, his wife and two unmarried daughters were cremated at Sonkani village. The local people today alleged that the unscientific construction of a concrete bridge by the PWD authority may have caused the accident that wiped out a whole family. They alleged that the bridge was very high and the approach road was not constructed with side berms which resulted in the tragic accident on a foggy late evening just after the vehicle crossed the bridge.
