Following the accident on Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district that killed 12, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut claimed commuters’ safety was overlooked on the Expressway, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022.
At least 12 people were killed and 23 others injured when a speeding mini-bus hit a container truck on Samruddhi Expressway in the early hours of Sunday.
“Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis only want to claim credit, they should also take the responsibility of deaths due to accidents on the expressway,” he said, as quoted by PTI.
“Why shouldn’t the government be booked for culpable homicide?” the Rajya Sabha member asked and demanded that the minister concerned be sacked.
Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole said that frequent accidents on the Samruddhi Expressway was a cause of concern.
The accident took place shortly after midnight on Sunday in Vaijapur area of the expressway. The passengers, at least 35 of them, were travelling in a private bus, which was returning to Nashik after visiting the Sailani Baba dargah in Buldhana district.
Police said the bus driver lost control over the wheels and the bus hit the stationary container truck from the rear side near Jambargaon toll plaza, Prima facie it appears that the mini-bus was overloaded, which had the capacity to carry 17 people, but nearly 35 passengers were travelling on it, inspector Shyamsundar Kavthale from Vaijapur police station said.
He added 12 passengers were killed, including five men, six women and a minor girl. About 23 others, including driver, received injuries and they were admitted to hospital.
The deceased have been identified as Tanushri Solse (5), Sangeeta Aswale (40), Panjabi Jagtap (38), Kajal Solse (32), Rajani Tapase (32), Hausabai Shirsat (70), Zumbar Gangurde (58), Amol Gangurde (18), Sarika Gangurde (40), Milind Pagare (50), Deepak Kekane (47), all from Nashik, and Ratan Jamdade (45) from Vaijapur in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in a post on X said an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) would be given to the next of kin of each deceased and the injured persons would be given Rs 50,000.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has announed ex-gratia of Rs five lakh to the next of kin of the deceased, and those who are injured will be treated for free in the hospitals. He has also ordered a probe into the incident.
District guardian minister Sandipan Bhumre told reporters that he has met the injured people, adding that an inquiry will be conducted in this case and action will be taken against those who were at fault.
Samruddhi Mahamarg – An accident hotspot
The Samruddhi Mahamarg, named Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg, is a 701-km-long expressway connecting Mumbai and Nagpur.
The first phase, connecting Nagpur to the temple town of Shirdi, was inaugurated by PM Modi in December 2022. It covers a distance of 520 km. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Fadnavis inaugurated the 80-km-long second phase of the Samruddhi Mahamarg stretch from Bharvir village in Igatpuri taluka to Shirdi on May 26.
A number of accidents have been witnessed on the expressway since it became operational.