Maharashtra: Bus catches fire after collision, 11 dead, 38 injured

Maharashtra: Bus catches fire after collision, 11 dead, 38 injured

Maharashtra: Bus catches fire after collision, 11 dead, 38 injured

Nashik : Eleven people were killed and 38 injured as a private bus travelling to Mumbai caught fire after hitting a trailer truck in Nashik city of Maharashtra early on Saturday, officials said.

The accident took place at Nandur naka on Nashik-Aurangabad highway at around 5.15am when the 'sleeper' bus was coming from Yavatmal in eastern Maharashtra, they said.

"A luxury bus travelling to Mumbai from Yavatmal hit a trailer truck going to Pune at an intersection near Mirchi Hotel on Nashik-Aurangabad highway. Soon after ramming into the truck, the bus caught fire in which 11 passengers died," Nashik Police Commissioner Jayant Naiknavare said.

The injured were admitted to the District Civil Hospital and another private medical facility in Nashik, he said.

Before catching fire, the bus also hit a mini cargo van, due to which it got overturned, the commissioner added.

Another police official said 38 people were injured in the incident.

On being alerted, the police, fire brigade and other agencies reached the spot and launched a rescue operation and the fire was doused. However, the bus was gutted, he said.

Eyewitnesses said the fire was so intense that they could not do anything to save the passengers for some time and had to stand there helplessly.

The death toll in the accident might go up as the condition of some of the injured is serious, the officials added.

In a tweet, PM Modi said, "Anguished by the bus tragedy in Nashik. My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones in this mishap. May the injured recover at the earliest. The local administration is providing all possible assistance to those affected." 

"An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each of the deceased due to the bus fire in Nashik. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000," he added.