Five people were killed and 35 others injured when a private bus carrying pilgrims from Madhya Pradesh fell into a deep gorge in Gujarat’s Dang district early Sunday morning, police said.
The accident occurred at 4:15 am near Saputara hill station when the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to break through a crash barrier and plunge approximately 35 feet, according to Superintendent of Police SG Patil.
The bus was en route to Dwarka in Gujarat, having departed from Trimbakeshwar in Maharashtra’s Nashik district the previous night.
Authorities confirmed that among the injured, 17 suffered serious injuries and were taken to the civil hospital at Ahwa, while others received treatment at community health centres.
The deceased included bus driver Ratan Lal Jatav from Vidisha, along with Bolaram Kushwaha, Pappu Yadav, Guddi Bai, and Kamlesh Bai Yadav from Shivpuri district, police stated.
Dang Collector Mahesh Patel indicated that a brake failure might have led to the crash. “Passengers had a brief tea stop at Saputara before resuming their journey. Medical teams are attending to the injured,” he said.
A rescue operation including police personnel and locals was carried out, with passengers transported to medical facilities. Gwalior Zone Inspector General of Police Arvind Saxena confirmed that the bus, a 52-seater, was not overcrowded, carrying 48 passengers.
The group had embarked on a religious tour across multiple states on December 23 2024, travelling in four buses, officials added.
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