At least 12 people were killed and 23 others injured in a bus-truck collision on the Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra, India. The private bus was carrying 35 passengers who were returning to Nashik after visiting a religious site. The bus driver lost control and hit the stationary truck, resulting in the fatalities and injuries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief and announced compensation for the victims’ families. This accident adds to the list of accidents on the newly constructed expressway.
At least 12 people have been tragically killed and 23 others injured in a road accident on the Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday when a speeding mini-bus collided with a container truck. The bus was carrying 35 passengers who were returning to Nashik after visiting the Sailani Baba dargah in Buldhana district.
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed their condolences over the loss of lives in the accident. 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 provided to the next of kin of each deceased, and Rs 50,000 would be given to the injured.
The accident took place near Jambargaon toll plaza, where the bus driver lost control and collided with the stationary container truck. It has been reported that the mini-bus was overloaded, as it had a capacity for only 17 passengers.
Twelve passengers, including five men, six women, and a minor girl, lost their lives. The injured were immediately taken to the hospital, including the bus driver who suffered a head injury. The truck driver has been detained by the police.
The Samruddhi Expressway control room received a call about the accident and immediately dispatched assistance teams and ambulances to the scene. The expressway control room official stated that the accident occurred on the first lane, where vehicles are supposed to travel at a maximum speed of 80 km per hour.
The deceased have been identified as individuals from Nashik and Vaijapur in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The Samruddhi Mahamarg, a 701-km-long expressway connecting Mumbai and Nagpur, has witnessed a number of accidents since its opening.
The construction of the expressway is being carried out by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation. The first phase, connecting Nagpur to Shirdi, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi in December 2022. The second phase, an 80-km-long stretch from Bharvir village to Shirdi, was inaugurated by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Fadnavis on May 26.
The tragic accident on the Samruddhi Expressway highlights the importance of road safety and the need for strict adherence to traffic regulations. It is a reminder for all drivers to exercise caution and for authorities to ensure appropriate measures are in place to prevent such incidents in the future..