Maharashtra: 12 killed, over 20 injured as mini-bus hits container on Samruddhi Expressway

Samruddhi Expressway accident: There were 35 passengers travelling by the bus. The accident took place in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.

Updated on: Oct 15, 2023, 11:00:33 IST

By HT News Desk

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At least 12 people were killed and 23 others injured when a speeding mini-bus hit a container in the early hours of Sunday on Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, formerly known as Aurangabad, police said. There were 35 passengers travelling by the private bus, an official told news agency PTI.

Police personnel at the spot after a speeding mini-bus hit a container on Samruddhi Expressway, in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, early Sunday morning. (PTI)

The accident took place around 12.30am in Vaijapur area of the expressway in the district, nearly 350 km from Mumbai. The bus driver lost control over the wheels. As a result, the bus hit the container from the rear side, the official added.

Twelve passengers were killed. The deceased include five men, six women and a minor girl. The official said 23 others received injuries and they were admitted to a government hospital.

News agency ANI citing police reported that the tempo was carrying a group of pilgrims from Nashik to Baba Teerth pilgrimage site in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. The accident occurred when the tempo was returning to Nashik after the darshan.

"17 people injured in this accident are undergoing treatment at the Valley Hospital in Aurangabad, the remaining six injured people have been sent to the rural hospital in Vaijapur for treatment and 12 people died in this accident," the police quoted as saying.

The police said the temp driver sustained injuries in the accident. He told the police that the truck was coming from the opposite direction and collided with the tempo head-on.

The injured were rushed to hospitals in Aurangabad and Vaijapur. The condition of some of the injured is said to be critical.

The police have registered a case. Further investigations are underway.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde expressed grief over the incident and announced a compensation of ₹5 lakh each to the families of the deceased. He also ordered an inquiry into the accident.

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