By Matters India Reporter

New Delhi: A leading Church group in India has offered to help those wounded in Sunday’s truck accident involving churchgoers in the northeastern Indian state of Meghalaya.

The Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) also mourned the death of 17 people in the February 26 accident in the West Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. As many as 61 others were seriously wounded in the incident.

The EFI community “has also offered to assist in the treatment of those with serious injuries and requests that prayers be mobilized for the families of the deceased and for the complete recovery of the injured,” says a message from Reverend Vijayesh Lal, general secretary of the fellowship.

The accident occurred around 8:25am when the driver, Oldining Syiem, lost control while taking a turn at Nongspung village, 11 km from the district headquarters of Nogstoin on the road to Shillong.

“The occupants were thrown out of the speeding truck resulting in more casualties,” West Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Arun Kumar Kembhavi told the Shillong Times. According to him, 12 people were killed on the spot, while five others died in Nongstoin Civil Hospital.

Nine out of the deceased were women, including a 13-year-old girl.

The magistrate, police, doctors and nearby villagers rushed to the spot and took the injured people to the hospitals, the newspaper said.

The truck was carrying people from three villagers to the annual meet of the Khasi Jaintia Presbyterian Synod.

“May the peace that proceeds from the God of all comfort be our portion at this time, even as we collectively grieve the loss of our sisters and brothers in Christ,” the EFI message prays.

The truck carrying the Christians overturned after the driver lost control of the same and hit a concrete railing, throwing most of the passengers in a deep gorge.

The driver and the helper are among the seriously injured.

The authorities have said that they are investigating the cause of the incident.

One of the injured, 21-year-old Sukmary Lyngkhoi of Nginiong who is admitted in a hospital, said the driver had no control of the truck. Another survivor said, “The passengers had warned the driver to slow down, but he did not respond and acted selfishly.”

Health Minister Roshan Warjri visited Shillong Civil Hospital and met the relatives of the victims. She directed doctors to render all support to the injured. Speaking to reporters, she expressed her grief and prayed for the injured.

The police have registered a case against the driver for rash and negligent driving. “Test will be carried out to ascertain whether he was drunk, but the case against him will be taken up by the police for speeding,” the District Collector said.

Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh offered their condolences to the bereaved families.

In a statement to the media, Sangma said, “The authorities, relatives and people of the area are taking all measures to ensure that there is no further loss of life and provide all other assistance to the affected and bereaved families.”

“I express my deepest condolences to the members of all the bereaved families and sincerely pray that the Almighty provide solace and strength to overcome the grief and the irreparable loss,” he added.

Lyngdoh said he would ensure that police take action against those involved.