As many as 26 people died and several others were injured after a bus caught fire on the Samruddhi Mahamarg Expressway in Maharashtra. The bus was travelling from Yavatmal to Pune.
The incident happened around 2 am on Saturday in Buldhana district of the state, news agency ANI reported.
Earlier, the Buldhana Police Deputy SP Baburao Mahamuni said, “25 bodies were extracted from the bus. A total of 33 people were travelling on the bus. 6-8 people were injured. The injured are being shifted to Buldhana Civil Hospital.”
The driver of the bus is safe, according to Buldhana SP Sunil Kadasane.
“A total of 33 people were travelling on the bus out of which 26 people died and 7 people sustained injuries. The driver of the bus also survived and said that the bus overturned after a tyre burst leading to flames in the bus,” said Buldhana SP Sunil Kadasane.
A sum of Rs 5 lakh has been announced as compensation for Buldhana bus accident victim’s family.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will visit the accident site with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The chief minister has also ordered an inquiry into the incident.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has expressed his condolences over the horrific accident of a private bus on the Samruddhi Expressway near Sindkhedaraja in Buldhana district.
Expressing condolences to the deceased and their families, the chief minister has announced an aid of Rs 5 lakh each from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to the relatives of the deceased in this unfortunate incident. Expressing that he is distressed by this terrible accident, the Chief Minister has ordered an inquiry into the incident.
As soon as the information about the accident came, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde contacted the Collector and Superintendent of Police of Buldhana on phone and took information about the incident. While giving instructions to provide immediate help to the accident victims, the chief minister also directed to provide immediate medical treatment to the injured at government expense.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the victims and their families.
“Deeply saddened by the devastating bus mishap in Buldhana, Maharashtra. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is providing all possible assistance to the affected,” Prime Minister Modi tweeted.
An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the bus mishap in Buldhana and Rs 50,000 would be given to the injured.