25 Bus Passengers Dead, 8 Survive After Vehicle Catches Fire on Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra

In a tragic accident that occurred on Saturday, fire engulfed a private travels bus on the Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra’s Buldhana district, which resulted in the death of twenty-five bus passengers, police said.

The bus was travelling from Nagpur to Pune when it collided with a pole and then rammed into a divider at approximately 1:30 am near Pimpalkhuta village. The bus flipped and caught fire, the police confirmed.

The bus operated by Vidarbha Travels was carrying a total of 33 passengers. There were eight survivors among the passengers who were promptly taken to hospitals in Sindkhedraja and Buldhana for immediate medical attention. Fortunately, their condition is reported to be stable.

While interacting with the PTI, Buldhana SP Sunil Kadasne said that according to preliminary information, the tire of the bus burst, following which the vehicle hit the pole, collided with the divider and engulfed in fire. As per the driver, who was one of the survivors, following the tyre burst, the bus overturned, leading the bus to flames, said Kadasane.

In a tweet posted by CMO Maharashtra, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde has announced that an ex-gratia amount of ₹5 lahks will be provided to the next of kin of the deceased individuals involved in the bus accident.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed his deep shock and sorrow over the incident in his tweet, stating that the government is actively coordinating with the district and police administration to offer immediate assistance in any way possible. Fadnavis added, “The state government will cover the expenses of medical treatment for the injured individuals.”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed his condolences and grief over the incident. He assured that the administration is providing necessary medical care to the injured individuals. In a heartfelt tweet articulated in Hindi, Shah said, “The road accident in Maharashtra’s Buldhana district is heartbreaking. In this difficult time, my thoughts are with the families who lost their loved ones in this tragic accident. The administration is ensuring prompt medical treatment for the injured. I pray for their swift recovery.”

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also shared his condolences via Twitter, expressing his deep sadness over the loss of lives in the unfortunate bus fire incident on the Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway. He extended his sympathies to the bereaved families and prayed for the departed souls to find eternal peace. Adityanath further wished for a speedy recovery of the injured individuals.