Maharashtra bus accident: 10 persons injured as bus overturns in Buldhana

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At least 10 passengers were injured when a state transport bus overturned in a ghat section in Maharashtra's Buldhana district on Tuesday, an official said, reported PTI.

The accident took place at around 9.45 am when the bus carrying 56 passengers was going towards Buldhana from Malkapur, he said.

When the bus was going up in the hilly Rajur Ghat section, its brakes failed and the vehicle overturned, the official said. At least 10 passengers received injuries in the incident, he said.

After being alerted, police rushed to the spot and all the injured persons were taken to a hospital for treatment, he added. The bus belonged to the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC).

The July 1 incident

Earlier on July 1, at around 2 am, a bus traveling from Yavatmal to Pune caught fire on the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Mahamarg Expressway. The incident claimed the lives of 25 people, while eight others sustained injuries and were receiving treatment at a hospital in Buldhana. The bus, operated by Vidarbha Travels, was carrying a total of 33 passengers.

The driver of the bus survived and was taken into custody by the police for questioning. According to reports, the driver revealed that he lost control of the vehicle after a tyre burst, causing a collision with an iron pole. The bus subsequently overturned and quickly caught fire. The authorities are still in the process of identifying the deceased. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the families of those who lost their lives.

This incident has garnered nationwide attention. Home Minister Amit Shah expressed his grief in a tweet, stating, "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. The administration is providing prompt treatment to the injured. I pray to god for their speedy recovery."

NCP leader Sharad Pawar also extended his condolences to the families of the deceased while raising the issue of speed limits in a tweet. He stated, "In light of this unfortunate incident, the issue of speed limits for private vehicles on the Samriddhi Highway needs to be deliberated upon. The state government should take serious note of this and implement immediate measures."

(With PTI inputs)