25 burned to death in bus accident on Maharashtra expressway
What's the story
At least 25 people were reportedly burned to death in the early hours of Saturday after a bus carrying 33 passengers burst into flames on the Samruddhi Mahamarg Expressway in Buldhana, Maharashtra.
According to reports, the accident took place at around 2:00am on Saturday when a private bus was on its way to Pune from Nagpur and rammed into a divider near Buldhana's Sindkhedraja.
Details
Buldhana SP reveals what led to accident
Speaking to the news agency PTI, Buldhana Superintendent of Police Sunil Kadasne revealed that the driver, who survived the horrifying crash, said that a tire of the bus burst, and the vehicle ended up hitting a pole before colliding with a divider and catching fire.
Furthermore, Kadasne also confirmed that a case had been filed, and a probe is also underway into the incident.
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Visuals of horrific accident
VIDEO | Twenty-five bus passengers were charred to death after the vehicle caught fire on the Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra’s Buldhana district earlier today. pic.twitter.com/OCb9RMCwPH
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 1, 2023
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Priority at this moment is to identify bodies: Police
While providing further details on the accident, Kadasne told PTI, "Twenty-five people were burnt to death in the accident. The injured, including the bus driver, have been shifted to a hospital for treatment."
"The priority at this moment is to identify the bodies and hand them over to their family members," added the Buldhana SP.
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Maharashtra CM announces Rs. 5 lakh ex gratia
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced an ex gratia compensation of Rs. 5 lakh for the kin of the deceased in the road accident near Buldhana.
While expressing his distress over the horrific accident, Shinde reportedly said an inquiry into the accident had been ordered.
Furthermore, he has also directed authorities to provide medical treatment to the injured at the state government's expense.
Further information
Shinde distressed by terrible accident: Maharashtra CMO
The Maharashtra CM's Office tweeted, "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," it added.
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Check out CMO Maharashtra's tweet
बुलढाणा जिल्ह्यातील सिंदखेडराजाजवळ समृद्धी महामार्गावर खाजगी बसच्या झालेल्या भीषण अपघाताबद्दल मुख्यमंत्री एकनाथ शिंदे यांनी तीव्र दुःख व्यक्त केले आहे. या अपघातातील मृत आणि त्यांच्या कुटुंबिंयांप्रति सहवेदना प्रकट करुन या दुर्दैवी घटनेतील मृतांच्या नातेवाईकांना मुख्यमंत्री…
— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) July 1, 2023
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How Amit Shah reacted to Maharashtra Expressway accident
On the other hand, Union Home Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amit Shah also expressed grief on the accident and said, "The road accident in Maharashtra's Buldhana district is heartbreaking."
"In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives in this horrific accident," he added.
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Union Home Minister Shah expresses grief
महाराष्ट्र के बुलढाणा जिले में हुआ सड़क हादसा हृदयविदारक है। दुःख की इस घड़ी में मेरी संवेदनाएं इस भीषण हादसे में जान गंवाने वाले लोगों के परिजनों के साथ हैं। प्रशासन द्वारा घायलों को त्वरित उपचार उपलब्ध कराया जा रहा है। ईश्वर से उनके शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की प्रार्थना करता हूँ।
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) July 1, 2023