Six persons died when a bus bound for Guwahati lost control, hit an electric pole and fell into a roadside ditch on National Highway 17 at Dhupdhara Kothakuthi in this lower Assam district on Tuesday morning. Thirty passengers were injured.

The site is 63km from Goalpara town.

The victims have been identified as Abida Khatun of Dhubri, Chandan Saha and Hafijuddin Sheikh of Gauripur, Abul Hussain Miah of Chapar, CISF jawan Gokul Roy and Montu Sheikh. All of them are from Dhubri district.

A vehicle carrying soldiers, which was passing the accident site, began the first rescue operation. Three police teams from Dhupdhara, Rongjuli and Dudhnoi also extended a helping hand and rescued the passengers trapped inside the mangled bus.

Additional superintendent of police Amitabh Basumatary, who supervised the rescue operation, said the timely help provided by locals, police and army resulted in reducing the number of casualties.

The injured were taken to Dhupdhara model and Goalpara civil hospitals. Those critically injured were referred to Gauhati Medical College Hospital.

Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal condoled the death of the passengers and directed the deputy commissioner to take care of the treatment of the wounded.

In another accident at Dudhnoi Puranibhita area, Binoy Basumatary died after being hit by a bus.