A highway collision involving two Maharashtra ST buses and a tractor near Bardoli sparked a massive rescue operation, with authorities investigating the cause of the fatal accident.
A severely damaged Maharashtra State Transport bus is removed from the accident site near Uva-Manekpor village in Surat district on Tuesday after a collision involving two buses and a tractor left seven people dead and several others injured. | IANS
A devastating highway accident in Gujarat’s Surat district claimed at least seven lives on Tuesday after a Maharashtra State Transport (ST) bus crashed into a tractor, crossed the central divider and slammed into another bus coming from the opposite direction. Around 15 passengers were injured in the collision, which triggered a massive rescue operation and drew condolences from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The tragedy unfolded near Uva-Manekpor village in Bardoli taluka when two Maharashtra State Transport buses collided. In the aftermath, one of the buses overturned, burst into flames and rolled down an embankment as emergency responders rushed to pull passengers from the wreckage.
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Officials said initial investigations indicate that a bus travelling from Dhule to Surat via Navapur first crashed into a tractor moving ahead of it on the highway, triggering the fatal sequence of events.
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The force of the collision caused the bus to veer across the divider and collide head-on with another Maharashtra ST bus approaching from the opposite direction.
Officials said one bus had around 25 to 26 passengers on board, while the other was carrying approximately 33 to 35 people.
The crash proved particularly deadly when one of the buses burst into flames after overturning. As the fire spread through the overturned bus, a number of passengers were unable to get out, complicating rescue efforts and deepening fears about the severity of the injuries.
Fire brigade teams, police personnel and ambulance services rushed to the spot and launched rescue and relief operations. Firefighters worked to control the blaze while emergency responders evacuated passengers and searched the damaged vehicles.
Authorities have confirmed seven deaths so far, though officials indicated the toll could rise as some of the injured remain in serious condition. The injured were shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Expressing grief over the tragedy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was deeply pained by the loss of lives and extended condolences to the bereaved families.
“Deeply pained to hear about a mishap in Surat district, Gujarat. My condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest. Rescue operations are underway, and authorities are providing all possible assistance at the accident site,” the Prime Minister said in a post on X.
The Prime Minister also announced financial assistance from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF). The next of kin of each deceased victim will receive Rs 2 lakh, while those injured will be given Rs 50,000 each.
Police have launched an investigation to establish the exact sequence of events that led to the accident. Authorities are still piecing together details of the victims and passengers who were on board the two buses, while efforts are underway to inform their families.
The accident brought traffic on the busy highway to a near standstill. Long queues of vehicles built up on both sides of the road as rescue workers, firefighters and police teams remained at the scene for hours carrying out relief operations and clearing the wreckage.
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