New Delhi: All of the six occupants of the car including three nuns, a priest, a deacon and a driver who were from a missionary school based in Assam’s Bongaigaon, were killed on the spot in the accident in Meghalaya.

A press note from Allen Brooks, the spokesperson of the Assam Christian Forum, says a truck carrying cement and going towards Guwahati jumped the road divider and rammed a car carrying the priest and the team coming from the opposite direction.

All six died on the spot at Sumer, 21 km north of the Meghalaya capital of Shillong.

The victims were identified as Fr. Mathew Das, parish priest and principal St. John’s H S School, Barama, and Fatima Sisters Milagrine Dantes, Promila Tirkey, and Rossie Nongrum, and teacher Mairan, besides the driver of the vehicle.

Barama is a town in Baksa district of neighboring Assam state and some 160 km northwest of Sumer.

The bodies have been taken to Nongpho Civil hospital for autopsy.

Meanwhile, Bishop Thomas Pulloppillil of Bongaigaon expressed his sadness at the tragic incident.

“With great sadness, I wish to inform that you that Fr. Mathew Das, parish priest of Barama parish along with three sisters of the Fatima convent in Barama and Baganpara and a teacher of Barama St. John’s HS School, and driver met with a fatal accident on the way to Shillong near Nongpoh in Meghalaya and died on the spot. Sister Melagrine Dantes, Promila Tirkey, Rossie Nongrum, Mairan (a teacher), and the driver are the deceased along with Fr. Mathew.”

The Assam Christian Forum has expressed its “deep pain at the tragic loss of innocent lives due to reckless driving.” It also extends its condolences to the bereaved families, including the diocese of Bongaigaon and the Fatima Sisters Congregation.

The forum has also asked the Meghalaya government for a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident.