25 dead as bus catches fire on Maharashtra expressway

Twenty-five persons, including three children, were killed when the bus they were travelling in caught fire on an expressway in Maharashtra’s Buldhana on Saturday, PTI reported.

The tragedy took place at around 1.30 am on the Samruddhi Expressway. The private sleeper coach bus was travelling from Nagpur to Pune and had 33 persons on board.

According to the police, the bus was moving at a high speed when the driver allegedly lost control and hit a poll and a wall, reported The Indian Express.

“Due to its impact, the two front tyres came off and the diesel tank of the bus exploded, following which the bus caught fire,” an unidentified police officer said.

PHOTO | At least 25 people were killed and several others injured after a bus caught fire on the Samruddhi Mahamarg expressway in Maharashtra’s Buldhana earlier today. pic.twitter.com/hnpJzq7ESp— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 1, 2023

Another officer said that the bus fell on its right side with the door facing the sky. Some passengers, including the driver of the bus, managed to come out through broken windows, according to PTI.

Buldhana Superintendent of Police Sunil Kadasane said that the driver has been taken into custody.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was deeply saddened by the mishap and added that the local administration...

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