13 injured after ST bus swerves off road, flips on its side near Mumbai

Eleven passengers in a state transport bus, as well as its driver and conductor, suffered minor injuries after the vehicle slipped off the side of the road and flipped on its side in Palghar district early on Wednesday.

A major mishap was averted as the bus landed on thick vegetation and trees, which cushioned the impact.

Police officials said the incident took place near Manjurli village as the bus was heading to Saphale town, around 98km away from Mumbai city.

“The bus was heading to Saphale on the narrow road when a speeding vehicle from the opposite direction came almost directly in front of it. To avoid a head-on collision, the bus driver swerved to the left and the bus skid and flipped on its side,” said a police official from Saphale, who did not wish to be named. “Luckily, a roadside tree took the impact of the bus or it may have turned turtle and resulted in a more serious accident.”

The bus was carrying 60-odd passengers, most of them vegetable vendors, students and farmers, the official said.

The injured have been admitted to Saphale Primary Health Centre and will be discharged by evening, a government doctor said, requesting anonymity.

Several passengers suffered glass injuries as they had to break the glass and crawl out of the emergency exit located at the rear of the bus.

“An FIR has been filed under sections 336,337 and 279 of the Indian Penal Code and section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act against the bus driver, but no arrests have been made so far,” said assistant police inspector Sunil Jadhav of Saphale police station.