Maharashtra: 26 Dead As Bus Catches Fire on Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway; Rs 5L Ex Gratia Announced

At least 26 people died and eight others were injured after a bus burst into flames on Samruddhi Mahamarg Expressway in Maharashtra’s Buldhana district.

The accident was reported around 2 am on Saturday when the bus was going from Yavatmal to Pune.

The injured people are being treated at Buldhana Civil Hospital, police said.

“At least 25 people feared dead and several injured after a bus carrying 32 passengers burst into flames on Samruddhi Mahamarg expressway in Buldhana. The injured are being shifted to Buldhana Civil Hospital,” said Baburao Mahamuni, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Buldhana.

As per the sources, the bus was carrying a wedding party when it crashed due to the rain.

The diesel tank of the bus burst and caught fire, police said.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the kin of the 26 deceased in a road accident in Buldhana.

Shinde is in constant touch with all senior officials present at the accident site.

“Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has expressed deep grief over the horrific accident of a private bus on the Samriddhi highway near Sindkhedaraja in the 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,” the Maharashtra CM’s Office said in a tweet.

The Chief Minister also ordered the administration to extend all possible help to the family of the deceased and those injured in the accident on the Samruddhi Mahamarg Expressway.

(With inputs from ANI)