Five people were killed and 35 others injured when a private bus carrying pilgrims from Madhya Pradesh plunged into a deep gorge in Gujarat’s Dang district early Sunday morning, reports PTI.
The accident occurred around 4:15 AM near Saputara hill station, when the bus driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, said in-charge Superintendent of Police SG Patil. The bus, which had 48 passengers, broke through a crash barrier and fell approximately 35 feet into the gorge.
Among the 35 injured, 17 were seriously hurt, and they were immediately taken to a civil hospital in Ahwa. The victims were en route to religious sites across India. The pilgrims had stopped for a tea break in Saputara before resuming their journey when the accident occurred, about 2.5 kilometres from the hill station.
The five fatalities, including the driver, were pronounced dead at the scene. The deceased were identified as Ratan Lal Jatav, the bus driver from Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, along with passengers Bolaram Kushwaha, Pappu Yadav, Guddi Bai, and Kamlesh Bai Yadav, all from Shivpuri district in Madhya Pradesh.
The pilgrims had started their journey on December 23, 2024, in four buses travelling to religious destinations across the country. The bus was not overcrowded, as it was a 52-seater vehicle with 48 passengers on board. Authorities suspect brake failure may have caused the accident.
Local residents and police personnel conducted a swift rescue operation, helping the injured passengers to nearby community health centres for treatment.
Probe in the case is underway.