At least 12 people were killed and 23 others injured in a collision between a mini-bus and a container truck on the Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra. The bus, carrying 35 passengers, was returning to Nashik after visiting a dargah. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief and announced compensation for the victims. The accident occurred due to the bus driver losing control and overloading of the vehicle.
At least 12 people were tragically killed and 23 others injured in a horrific accident on Sunday morning in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra. A speeding mini-bus collided with a container truck on the Samruddhi Expressway, resulting in the devastating loss of lives.
The private bus was carrying 35 passengers who had just visited the Sailani Baba dargah in Buldhana district and were returning to Nashik. The bus driver lost control and crashed into the stationary truck from the rear near Jambargaon toll plaza.
Sadly, the mini-bus was found to be overloaded, with a capacity to carry only 17 passengers. The bus driver, among those injured, claimed to have seen the truck suddenly in front of him before the accident. The truck driver has been detained for further investigation.
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed their condolences and grief over the loss of lives. The Prime Minister’s Office announced that an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) would be given to the next of kin of each deceased, while the injured would receive Rs 50,000.
The accident occurred in the Vaijapur area of the expressway, nearly 80 km from the district headquarters and 350 km from Mumbai. Local authorities were alerted, and an assistance team and ambulance arrived at the scene promptly.
The Samruddhi Expressway is a 701-km-long expressway connecting Mumbai and Nagpur, traversing 10 districts. It is being constructed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation. The first phase, covering a distance of 520 km from Nagpur to Shirdi, was inaugurated in December 2022.
Unfortunately, the Samruddhi Expressway has witnessed a number of accidents since its opening. The authorities must prioritize safety measures and enforce regulations to prevent such tragic incidents in the future.
As the families of the deceased mourn their loved ones and the injured recover, the nation stands in solidarity with them during this difficult time..