National desk, 1 July: In a tragic incident, as many as 25 people including three children were charred to death when the bus they were travelling in caught fire on a highway in Maharashtra.
According to reports, eight other people were also injured in the incident with burns.
Reportedly, around 33 people were aboard the bus that was on its way to Pune. The incident occurred on the Samruddhi-Mahamarg Expressway at around 2 am.
The bus allegedly hit a divider after a tyre burst and caught fire near Buldhana, according to the police.
“25 people were burnt to death in the accident. The injured, including the bus driver, have been shifted to a hospital for treatment,” said Sunil Kadasane, Superintendent of Police, Buldhana.
A case has been registered and further investigation is underway.
“The priority at this moment is to identify the bodies and hand them over to their family members,” the police official said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of those who died in the bus accident in Buldhana on the Samruddhi Mahamarg Expressway on Saturday.
In addition, he promised that individuals injured in the accident would receive Rs. 50,000.
“Deeply saddened by the devastating bus mishap in Buldhana, Maharashtra. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is providing all possible assistance to the affected. An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF (Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund) would be given to the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the bus mishap in Buldhana. Rs 50,000 would be given to the injured,” the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted quoting PM Modi.