At least six people were killed and over 20 others injured after a Maharashtra state transport bus caught fire following a collision with another government bus in Gujarat’s Surat district.
At least six people died and more than 20 others were injured after a Maharashtra-registered state transport bus caught fire following a collision with another government bus near Uva village in Bardoli of Gujarat’s Surat district on Tuesday.
According to initial information, two Maharashtra government buses were involved in a major crash on a highway near Uva village. The impact of the collision reportedly caused one of the buses to lose control, jump over the divider, and land on the opposite side of the road, where it caught fire.
Local residents initially claimed that more than three people had died in the accident. However, authorities said they were focusing on rescue efforts and could not immediately confirm the exact death toll. Surat Rural SP Rajesh Gadhvi and Range IG Premveer Singh said the accident occurred after 4 pm and that rescuing passengers and ensuring medical treatment for the injured remained their top priority.
Later, Surat Rural Police confirmed that six people had died in the incident. Officials also said that more than 20 injured passengers were shifted to hospitals for treatment. Most of the passengers involved in the accident are residents of Maharashtra.
Fire department teams rushed to the spot immediately after receiving information about the crash and launched efforts to control the blaze. Rescue teams, police personnel, and local residents worked together to evacuate passengers trapped inside the buses and transport the injured to nearby hospitals.
Authorities said the bus was extensively damaged in the fire, and a clearer picture of the casualties would emerge after the rescue operation and assessment of the vehicle were completed.
