At least 12 people were killed and 23 others were injured after a mini-bus hit a container on Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, formerly known as Aurangabad, in the early hours of Sunday, said the police according to PTI. The driver of the private bus, carrying 35 passengers, lost control over the wheel, and as a result hit the container from the rear side, an official told the news agency.
The accident took place at around 12:30 am in Vaijapur area of the expressway in the district, nearly 350 kilometres from Mumbai, he said.
Among the deceased were five men, six women and a minor girl, he said, adding the injured were admitted to a government hospital.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief over the loss of the lives in the accident and wished a speedy recovery for the injured as he announced an ex gratia of Rupees 2 lakh for the family of each deceased and Rs 50,000 to those injured.
"Pained by the loss of lives due to an accident in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones. I wish the injured a speedy recovery. An ex-grata of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000," said the Prime Minister 's Office in a post on X.
Maharashtra government has also instructed to provide financial assistance to the families of the deceased and treatment to the injured on government's expense. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced an ex gratia of Rupees 5 lakh to the families of the victims.
"A very unfortunate incident where 12 people died in an accident involving a private vehicle, a truck near Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. I pay my heartfelt tribute to him," said Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in a post on X.
"Out of the 20 injured, 14 have been admitted to Ghati Hospital and the Collector and other officials have reached there. 6 injured are being treated at Vaijapur Hospital. I pray to God for early relief to the injured. Instructions have been given to provide financial assistance to the families of the deceased and treat the injured at government expense," he added.