At least 11 people died in Maharashtra early Saturday, 8 October, after the bus they were travelling in caught fire on Nashik’s Aurangabad road around 5:15 am. 38 others were injured.
According to police officials, the bus had hit a “trailer truck transporting diesel,” reported NDTV. Investigation is underway and a case has already been registered.
The bus, owned by Chintamani Travels, was going from Yavatmal to Mumbai. While some passengers got stuck inside the bus and died, others tried to jump outside.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who met the injured persons in the hospital and visited the accident site on Saturday afternoon, has announced Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia to the kin of the people who passed away.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the deceased's families. "The injured would be given Rs 50,000," said NDTV.
Maharashtra Minister Dada Bhuse told news agency ANI that he was going to “the spot to assess the situation” and added that the state government will cover the injured persons’ medical bills.
“Most of those killed were passengers of the bus – a sleeper coach. The injured have been shifted to the hospital for treatment.”Nashik’s Deputy Commissioner of Police Amol Tambe to NDTV
The travel company's owner Guddu also added that the injured are undergoing treatment in a nearby hospital.
An eyewitness told ANI, “The incident occurred near my house. Heavy vehicles ply here. After the incident, the bus caught fire and people were burnt to death. We saw it but could not do anything. Fire Dept & Police came later."
Anita Chaudhari, who was able to escape the fire, told NDTV, "We were sleeping in the bus, when we heard a loud noise. The bus had caught fire. Somehow, I managed to get out of the bus along with my daughter...We are lucky to have survived."
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