Six persons, including three women, were killed and more than 20 injured after two private buses collided in Maharashtra’s Buldhana district in the early hours on Saturday, officials said.
Two buses had a head-on collision around 2.30 a.m. on NH 53 at Nandur Naka flyover in Malkapur area. One of the buses had passengers returning to Hingoli district from the Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage, while the other bus was heading to Nashik, the police said.
While those injured were admitted to a hospital in Buldhana, around 32 passengers with minor injuries have been given first aid at a nearby Gurudwara. The driver of the bus, which was returning from Amarnath, is also dead. The police are in the process of registering a First Information Report in the case.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed grief over the loss of lives and announced ex gratia of ₹5 lakh each to the family of the deceased from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Mr. Shinde also directed officials to provide proper medical treatment to the injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply saddened” by the loss of lives.
On July 25, 10 passengers were injured when a State transport bus overturned in a ghat section in Buldhana district. On July 1, at least 25 people, including three children, were burnt to death, and eight others were injured when the bus they were travelling in caught fire on the Samruddhi-Mahamarg Expressway in the district.
