Nashik: 12 Dead, Including A Child, After Bus Hits Container & Catches Fire. PM Modi, CM Shinde Announce Ex Gratia

11 people died after a bus hit a container and caught fire in Maharashtra’s Nashik city. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of life and announced ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh.

New Delhi: 12 people died, including one child, after a luxury bus hit a container and caught fire in Maharashtra’s Nashik city early Saturday.

The accident took place on Aurangabad Road around 5 am, when the private bus hit the container and caught fire in a few minutes, news agency PTI reported an official as stating.

The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital, the official said.

"A luxury bus and a trailer truck collided with each other. A fire broke out due to the impact. 11 casualties so far. 30 people had started from Yavatmal & 19 people boarded the bus in the middle. They are being identified": Nashik Police Commissioner Jayant Naiknavare said, as quoted by news agency ANI.

The death toll then rose to 12 including one child.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of life and announced ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh.

"Anguished by the bus tragedy in Nashik. My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones in this mishap. May the injured recover at the earliest. The local administration is providing all possible assistance to those affected," the Prime Minister's Office quoted PM Modi as saying.

"An ex gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each of the deceased due to the bus fire in Nashik. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000," another tweet informed.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that the state government will bear the treatment expenses for those admitted to the hospital.

"Our priority is to provide treatment to the injured. Govt will bear their treatment expenses in the hospital. Rs 5 lakh given to the next of kin of the deceased": CM Eknath Shinde said after the accident, as per ANI.

Later, he visited the accident site and also met the injured. "12 people died. Rs 5 lakh to next of kin of deceased. Seriously injured will be given Rs 2 lakh. Instructions have been given to officials to identify spots in Nashik where accidents occur frequently and take action," Shinde said, as quoted by ANI.

A high-level meeting will be convened to identify the places in the state where accidents happen frequently and necessary action will be taken, he informed.

(With Agency Inputs)