Maharashtra: 11 dead after bus hits truck, catches fire in Nashik

Representative ImageThe incident occurred at around 5 am on Nashik – Aurangabad Road. Pic/Pallav Paliwal

At least 11 persons were killed and 38 others injured as a private bus travelling to Mumbai caught fire after hitting a trailer truck in Nashik city of Maharashtra early on Saturday, officials told PTI.

The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital, the Nashik Police said.

"We are still trying to ascertain the exact number of deaths with the doctor's confirmation," Nashik Police said.

In a statement, the Chief Minister's office confirmed that 11 people had died in the mishap. The government will bear the medical expenses of the wounded, the CMO said.

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Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the families of the dead.

CM Eknath Shinde has announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakhs each to the next of kin of those who died in this unfortunate incident. I am also going to the spot to assess the situation, said Nashik guardian minister Dada Bhuse, as quoted by news agency ANI.

According to PTI, the accident took place at Nandur Naka on Nashik-Aurangabad highway around 5.15 am when the 'sleeper' bus was coming from Yavatmal in eastern Maharashtra.

The private bus, a 'sleeper' coach, had around 30 passengers. It hit the truck at Nandur Naka and caught fire in a few minutes, an official told PTI.

"A luxury bus travelling to Mumbai from Yavatmal hit a trailer truck going to Pune at an intersection near Mirchi Hotel on Nashik-Aurangabad highway. Soon after ramming into the truck, the bus caught fire in which 11 passengers died," Nashik Police Commissioner Jayant Naiknavare told PTI.

The injured persons were admitted to the District Civil Hospital and another private medical facility in Nashik, he said.

Before catching fire, the bus also hit a mini cargo van, due to which it got overturned, the commissioner added.

Another police official told PTI 38 persons were injured in the incident.

On being alerted, the police, fire brigade and other agencies reached the spot and launched a rescue operation and the fire was doused off. However, the bus was completely gutted in the incident, he said.

Some eyewitnesses said the fire was so intense that they could not do anything to save the passengers for some time and had to stand there helplessly.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives in the bus tragedy and said ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh would be given to the next of kin of each deceased and the injured would be given Rs 50,000 each.

In a tweet, PM Modi said, "Anguished by the bus tragedy in Nashik. My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones in this mishap. May the injured recover at the earliest. The local administration is providing all possible assistance to those affected."

"An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each of the deceased due to the bus fire in Nashik. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000," he added.

(With inputs from ANI and PTI)