11 people killed, 25 injured when Maha SRTC bus overturns in Gondia

At least 11 passengers were killed and 25 others injured after a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation bus overturned in Gondia district of the state on Friday afternoon, police said.

PHOTO: Rescue operation underway at the accident site after MSRTC bus overturns, 11 people die in Gondia, Maharashtra, November 29, 2024.Photo: ANI Photo

The bus, operated under the service name ‘Shiv Shahi’, was carrying 36 passengers and was heading to Gondia district from Bhandara in eastern Maharashtra when it overturned at Khajri village in Sadak Arjuni Taluka after the driver applied the brakes to avoid hitting the two-wheeler . which suddenly came to the fore, said a senior police official.

“The accident, which occurred around 12:30 p.m., killed 11 passengers and injured 25,” he said.

The injured passengers were shifted to various hospitals, the official added.

He added that of the 11 deceased passengers, nine have been identified so far, while the identities of two other people in their 50s have not yet been established.

According to the police, the victims included a 32-year-old policewoman, identified as Smita Vicky Suryavanshi of Arjuni Morgaon in the district.

Her husband worked in the police and died a few years ago from some illness.

On compassionate grounds, she was posted in the department and is currently posted at Gondia Police Station.

She lived with her in-laws and son, and after meeting her family, she returned to duty, the police added.

Caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed grief over the loss of life in the accident and announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the family of the deceased.

Shinde spoke to the Gondii collector and instructed that proper treatment and medical attention be provided to all injured passengers.

If necessary, they should be admitted to private hospitals for specialized treatment and the cost of this treatment will be borne by the state government, the statement he quoted said.

Devendra Fadnavis, deputy prime minister of the outgoing government, described the bus accident as unfortunate and expressed condolences to the bereaved family members.

In a post on X, Fadnavis said that injured passengers must be treated in private hospitals if necessary.

“I have also directed the Gondia Collector to make arrangements to transport the injured to Nagpur for treatment if necessary,” he said.

“I pray to God for the speedy recovery of the injured passengers,” Fadanavis added.

With a fleet of approximately 15,000 buses, MSRTC is one of the largest public transport corporations in the country. Around 60 lakh passengers travel in corporate buses every day.