33 picnickers killed as bus falls into 500-ft gorge near Maharashtra's Raigad district

A team of NDRF was rushed to the spot for relief operations.

Mumbai: In a tragic incident, at least 33 passengers lost their lives after the bus they were travelling in plunged into a 500-ft gorge at Ambenali ghat between Raigad and Satara district in Maharashtra. The bus was carrying around 34 staffers of Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli to Mahableshwar for a picnic. (VIEW PICTURES) A picture of the people who were aboard the bus. Reports coming in said one passenger was fortunate enough to survive the crash who climbed atop and alerted locals about the deadly accident. Rest of the injured were admitted to a near by hospital. The driver of the bus reportedly could not negotiate a steep turn that to led to the fatal accident. A team of NDRF was rushed to the spot for relief operations who are being assisted by local villagers. Rescue efforts were severely hampered by heavy rains lashing the Western Ghats, besides poor mobile connectivity in the area.

Pained to know about the loss of lives in Mahabaleshwar bus accident.Administration taking all efforts to provide required assistance. Senior officials&emergency management systems in place. My thoughts are with families who lost loved ones&prayers for speedy recovery of injured.

— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) July 28, 2018

Raigad Police Control official P.D. Patil was quoted by news agency IANS saying that "around 35 staff of Konkan Agriculture University in Ratnagiri, including some women, were on way for a weekend picnic to popular tourist destinations of Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani when the bus fell 500 feet down into the ravine around 9 a.m. near Poladpur." Disturbing visuals emerged of decapitated bodies and the bus being completely ripped apart. They depicted the impact of the lethal crash. PM Narendra Modi said on Twitter that he is pained by the loss of lives. "My condolences to those who lost their loved ones."

30 people, including students of Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, fatally injured after a bus falls down a mountain road on Mumbai-Goa highway near Raigad. Rescue operation underway. Instructed officials on prompt action.

— Vinod Tawde (@TawdeVinod) July 28, 2018

Congress President also took to Twitter to condole the deaths and urged party workers in the area to offer assistance. "I'm sorry to hear about the terrible bus accident in Raigad, Maharashtra in which a large number of people have been killed & many others injured. I appeal to Cong party workers in the area to provide all possible assistance to the injured & families of the deceased," he tweeted.

I'm sorry to hear about the terrible bus accident in Raigad, Maharashtra in which a large number of people have been killed and many others injured. I appeal to Congress party workers in the area to provide all possible assistance to the injured & families of those who have died.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 28, 2018

This is a developing story. More details are awaited.