At least 25 people, including three children, died after a bus travelling from Maharashtra's Yavatmal to Pune burst into flames on the Samruddhi Mahamarg Expressway. The incident happened around 2am on Saturday in Buldhana.
According to police officials, the bus, carrying 33 passengers, caught fire after it rammed into a divider near Sindkhedraja. According to earlier reports, police said the bus skidded after a tyre burst, causing it to hit the divider. However, the exact cause of the accident has not yet been ascertained. The remaining eight injured were rushed to the Buldhana Civil Hospital.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced free treatment for the injured, and an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to families of the deceased. Shinde also ordered a probe into the incident.
Deeply saddened by the accident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakhs each to the next of kin of the deceased and financial assistance of Rs 50,000 each to the injured.
Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed grief over the tragic accident. “The road accident in Maharashtra's Buldhana district is heartbreaking. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic accident. Quick treatment is being provided to the injured by the administration. I pray to God for the speedy recovery of those injured," Shah tweeted in Hindi.