Buldhana: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reached Buldhana Civil Hospital to meet the injured in the Buldhana bus accident. Before reaching the hospital, they inspected the site of the accident in which 25 people died and eight sustained injuries.
The accident took place at around 1:30 am on Saturday on the Samruddhi-Mahamarg Expressway in Buldhana.
"The bus driver and conductor have been taken into custody by police," said Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan earlier today.
Police official says accident happened due to tyre burst
"The bus was travelling from Nagpur to Pune when it met with an accident at around 1:30 am. The driver said that the accident took place after a tyre burst, leading to flames in the bus. Later the diesel tank of the vehicle caught fire. There are three children among those who died and the rest are adults. The exact reason for the accident has not yet been ascertained," Buldhana Superintendant of Police (SP) Sunil Kadasane told reporters.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis promptly arrived at the accident site upon receiving the news. CM Shinde announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 5 lakh for the families of the victims, along with full coverage of medical expenses for the injured passengers. Shinde and Fadnavis visited the hospital to meet the injured passengers of the ill-fated bus.
Preserving Lives
Shinde emphasised the value of every life, calling the incident deeply unfortunate. He assured the media that the government would take all necessary steps to prevent such incidents in the future, urging everyone to adhere to traffic rules and regulations.
PM Modi's Condolences
Prime Minister Modi expressed profound grief over the Buldhana accident. He announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
Inquiry Launched
DCM Fadnavis confirmed that a thorough investigation has been ordered into the accident. He also highlighted the government's efforts to enhance safety on the expressway, including the installation of CCTV cameras and implementing measures to control speeding vehicles. Fadnavis stated that until these measures are in place, a manual system will be implemented to ensure safety.
Morcha Cancelled
Mumbai BJP President MLA Ashish Shelar expressed his condolences and canceled the proposed morcha in Mumbai, considering the public's grief. He emphasized the party's commitment to seeking accountability for the mismanagement of Mumbai but acknowledged the need to prioritize mourning.
Preventing Future Accidents
Leader of opposition Ajit Pawar raised concerns about the rising number of fatal accidents on the Nagpur-Mumbai expressway. He called for proactive measures from the government to prevent such incidents, expressing deep sorrow for the lives lost in the accident.
Demand for Accountability
MPCC President Nana Patole demanded that the Shinde-Fadnavis government be held accountable for the accident, suggesting a case of culpable homicide be filed against them. Patole criticized the hasty inauguration of the Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Expressway and highlighted numerous complaints about its safety. He noted that despite a hefty investment, the highway has witnessed nearly 300 fatal accidents in the past six months alone.
Government Criticised
Uddhav Thackeray, Chief of Shiv Sena (UBT), accused the state government of negligence in preventing accidents on the expressway. Sanjay Raut, Jitendra Awhad, and Supriya Sule also criticised the government's response. NCP supremo Sharad Pawar suggested the appointment of an expert committee to assess the road conditions and propose safety measures. He further targeted DCM Fadnavis, referencing public sentiment that the deceased are often referred to as "Devendravasi" after such accidents.
(With inputs from ANI)
