25 Dead In Maharashtra Road Accident, Fadnavis Assures Smart Safety Systems Soon. Top Points

Deputy CM Fadnavis said it was premature to call into question the construction quality of the Samruddhi Mahamarg Expressway, where the incident occurred. Read the top points here.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visit the site where a bus met with an accident and caught fire killing at least 25 passengers and injuring many others.

Source : PTI

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis refuted claims that poor road quality contributed to a tragic bus accident in Buldhana district that killed 25 people on Saturday. Addressing the media, Fadnavis said it was premature to call into question the construction quality of the Samruddhi Mahamarg Expressway, where the incident occurred. The deputy CM emphasised that passing judgement on the expressway's construction at this stage would be inappropriate. 

The 33-passenger bus caught fire around 1:30 am on Saturday while travelling from Yavatmal to Pune.

"It is not appropriate to comment on the expressway's construction quality," said Deputy CM Fadnavis said.

"In the accident, twenty-five people died and seven were injured. To identify the body, we must conduct DNA testing. We've launched an investigation into what happened. I can't say anything right now because it could be human error or a tyre burst," Fadnavis added.

"We are taking precautions to avoid such incidents. We intend to install smart systems as well, but it will take time," he said.

READ | ‘Govt Not Taking Measures To Stop Accidents’: Uddhav Thackeray On Samruddhi Expressway Incident

Since the tragic accident, many political reactions have poured in; read on to learn more about what happened, what the opposition said, and how the government reacted. 

Top Points: 

• The accident occurred around 1:30 am on Saturday, involving passengers travelling from Nagpur, Wardha, and Yavatmal.
• Emergency medical services and the fire brigade were immediately dispatched to the scene for rescue operations.
• According to the bus owner, Virendra Dharne, heavy rainfall in the area caused the diesel tank to burst and catch fire, leading to the tragic accident.
• Preliminary reports suggest that the bus overturned after a tire burst, resulting in flames, and later the diesel tank caught fire. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jayant Naiknavre, along with Buldhana Superintendent of Police (SP) Sunil Kadasane and additional police personnel, arrived at the spot to assess the situation, PTI reported. 
• Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and announced financial aid of Rs 5 Lakh each from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.
• CM Shinde, Deputy CM Fadnavis, and other senior cabinet ministers visited the incident spot and later the hospital to meet the injured and inquire about their health.
• CM Shinde ordered a probe into the incident and announced that the state government would seek expert opinions on road conditions and reasons for the recent series of accidents to implement preventive measures.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident, offering condolences to the affected families and announcing financial assistance of Rs 2 Lakh to the family of deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured individuals from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
• Opposition leaders, including Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar, raised concerns over the speed limit and construction quality of the Samruddhi Expressway, urging the government to take immediate action to address these issues.
• Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray criticised the government for not taking sufficient measures to prevent accidents on the Samruddhi Expressway, expressing condolences for the victims and calling for increased attention to road safety.
• Since its opening, the newly constructed Samruddhi Mahamarg has seen a number of mishaps. According to data compiled by the state highway police, highway hypnosis or sleepiness while driving has emerged as the leading cause of accidents on the Samruddhi Mahamarg, accounting for 98 accidents or 27% of the total 358 accidents reported between the date of its inauguration on December 11, 2022, and April 30 this year.