Assam: Family devastated, blames 108 service after young law student mowed down by ambulance in Guwahati

What began as a day of devotion and celebration during Saraswati Puja ended in devastating tragedy in Assam’s capital on Friday, January 23, after a speeding 108 ambulance rammed into two pedestrians at Kahilipara, killing a young woman and leaving another critically injured.

The deceased has been identified as Luna Bhardwaj (26), a law student of J.B. Law College, Guwahati, and a resident of North Shalmara in Bongaigaon district. The incident has sent shockwaves across the state, particularly as Luna was on the cusp of a promising new beginning—she was scheduled to join Axis Bank in just two days.

The collision also critically injured Achyut Baruah, a resident of Dergaon in Golaghat district, who was immediately rushed to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where he remains under treatment.

According to police sources, the 108 ambulance driver fled the scene immediately after the accident, triggering outrage and questions over accountability. The ambulance has since been seized by Dispur Police, and a case has been registered. An investigation is currently underway to ascertain the circumstances leading to the fatal incident.

As festivities unfolded across Assam, a pall of grief descended on Luna Bhardwaj’s family home in Bongaigaon. Relatives and neighbours described her as a bright, hardworking student with aspirations of building a stable career in the legal and banking sectors.

Speaking to the media, Luna’s brother—himself a law graduate—alleged gross negligence on the part of the ambulance driver, stating that reckless driving led to the irreversible loss of a young life. He demanded strict legal action against those responsible, stressing that emergency vehicles cannot be allowed to operate with impunity.