India: 25 people charred to death, eight injured as bus catches fire on Maharashtra Expressway

Around 25 people, including three children,were charred to death and eight others suffered injuries after a bus, in which they were travelling, caught fire on the Maharashtra expressway.

Officials stated that the bus, which was headed to Pune, was carrying around 33 people and added that the incident that took place on the Samruddhi Mahamarg Expressway had occurred at around 2 am (local time). The police officials informed that the bus rammed into a divider which led to a tyre burst after which it caught fire near Buldhana.

ALSO READ |India: Six electrocuted as live wire falls on chariot during Rath Yatra in Tripura

"25 people were burnt to death in the accident. The injured, including the bus driver, have been shifted to a hospital for treatment,” said Sunil Kadasane, Superintendent of Police, Buldhana. He stated that they have registered a case and an investigation into the incident is going on.

Buldhana SP Kadasane further confirmed that 33 people were on the bus when the unfortunate incident took place.

Buldhana Deputy SP Baburao Mahamuni had earlier said, “25 bodies were extracted from the bus. A total of 33 people were travelling on the bus. 6-8 people were injured. The injured are being shifted to Buldhana Civil Hospital.”

Injured people shifted to another hospital

Deputy SP Baburao Mahamuni, speaking to news agency ANI, said that they are shifting the injured people to Buldhana Civil Hospital.

“A total of 33 people were travelling on the bus out of which 26 people died and 7 people sustained injuries. The driver of the bus also survived and said that the bus overturned after a tyre burst and caught fire,” stated Buldhana Police Deputy SP Baburao Mahamuni.

WATCH |New Zealand fire: At least 10 killed, many injured after fire in a hostel in Wellington | WION

The government has announced a sum of Rs 5 lakhs as compensation for the families of the victims involved in the Buldhana bus accident.

"The priority at this moment is to identify the bodies and hand them over to their family members," said Kadasane.

The accident site will be visited by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde along with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. An investigation into the incident has been ordered by the chief minister.

Reacting to the incident, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Deeply saddened by the devastating bus mishap in Buldhana, Maharashtra. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is providing all possible assistance to the affected."

"An ex-gratia of Rs2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the bus mishap in Buldhana. Rs50,000 would be given to the injured," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

You cannow write forwionews.comand be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with ushere.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE