Navsari: Nine persons died and as many as 29 were injured after a sports utility vehicle (SUV) rammed into a luxury bus in Navsari district of Gujarat in the wee hours of December 31, said the police. The injured were admitted to a hospital and were undergoing treatment.
Speaking to the media, Navsari Superintendent of Police Rushikesh Upadhyay said that the accident happened as the SUV driver lost control after which it collided with a bus.
He'd earlier told PTI that the accident occured on a national highway near Vesma village when the bus was moving towards Valsad and the SUV was coming from the opposite direction.
He further said that the highway patrolling team responded immediately and started the rescue operation.
Upadhyay told PTI that of the nine people travelling in the SUV, eight died on the spot along with the driver of luxury bus.
Those travelling in the SUV were residents of Ankleshwar (in Gujarat) and they were on their way back to their hometown from Valsad, Upadhyay said, adding that the passengers of the bus hailed from Valsad.
Meanwhile, ANI quoted Deputy SP VN Patel saying that the accident happened at around 4 am,
Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed his condolences in a tweet. He wrote, "The road accident in Gujarat's Navsari is heartbreaking. My condolences to those who have lost their families in this tragedy. May God give them the strength to bear the pain. The local administration immediately treats the injured, praying for their speedy recovery."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the kin of deceased while those injured will be given Rs 50,000.
A tweet from PMO quoting Modi stated, "Pained by the loss of lives due to a road accident in Navsari. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. I hope the injured recover soon. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. Those injured would be given Rs. 50,000."
Chief Minister of Gujarat, Bhupendra Patel also condoled the deaths caused by accident and tweeted, "I am saddened by the road accident tragedy in Navsari. I express my heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the accident. I pray to God for speedy recovery of the injured.
