In a devastating incident on the Samruddhi Mahamarg expressway in Maharashtra’s Buldhana district, a bus carrying 33 passengers caught fire, resulting in the loss of at least 25 lives. The mishap occurred around 2 am on Saturday when a private travels bus, en route from Nagpur to Pune, collided with a divider near Sindkhedraja, causing a catastrophic blaze. According to Deputy SP Baburao Mahamuni, the injured individuals were promptly rushed to Buldhana Civil Hospital for medical treatment. Buldhana SP Sunil Kadasne revealed that preliminary investigations indicated the bus’s tire had burst, leading to the collision with a pole, subsequent contact with a divider, and the ensuing inferno.
Tragically, out of the 33 passengers on board, 25 lost their lives due to the intense fire. The bus driver, who miraculously survived the incident, recounted that the vehicle had overturned following the tire burst, resulting in the rapid spread of flames throughout the bus. The exact cause of the tire burst is yet to be determined, and a comprehensive investigation will shed light on the circumstances leading to this devastating accident. Responding to the tragedy, Maharashtra’s Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹5 lakh to the families of the deceased.
This gesture aims to provide some financial relief to the grieving families as they navigate the aftermath of this heart-wrenching incident. The incident has once again highlighted the need for robust safety measures in the transportation sector. Authorities are likely to scrutinize the maintenance and condition of the bus, as well as the adherence to safety protocols, as part of the ongoing investigation. Public safety remains a paramount concern, and efforts to prevent such accidents in the future will likely be emphasized. The Samruddhi Mahamarg expressway, which connects Nagpur and Mumbai, is a vital transportation artery in Maharashtra.
The incident serves as a reminder of the inherent risks involved in road travel and the importance of regular maintenance, training, and enforcement of safety standards to minimize such tragic occurrences. As the community mourns the loss of lives in this bus fire, there is a collective call for swift action to prevent similar incidents and to ensure the safety of travelers on the state’s roadways. The investigation will be closely watched, and the findings are expected to inform necessary measures to enhance passenger safety and prevent such accidents from recurring in the future.