One woman was killed and 22 people were injured after a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus fell into a gorge in Nashik on Wednesday morning. The injured were rushed to a state-run hospital, an official told PTI. The incident took place around 5:45 am near a Ganesh temple at Vani on the Saptashrungi Garh ghat section in Kalwan taluka. At first the injured were rushed to a rural hospital in Vani. Later, most of them were shifted to the District Civil Hospital in Nashik.
According to the PTI report, the MSRTC bus had travelled to Saptashrungi Garh from Khamgaon in the Buldhana district on Tuesday night. On its way back, on Wednesday morning, it broke the protection railing on the side of the road and fell into a 150-ft-deep gorge.
Initial investigation revealed, the driver of the bus had lost control of the vehicle due to low visibility. According to local residents, police and other agencies reached the spot and quickly started the rescue and search operations.
The district guardian minister, Dada Bhuse visited the injured at the rural hospital in Vani. He said, “Unfortunately, a woman lost her life and 22 people received injuries in the accident. Most of the passengers of the bus were from Amalner taluka in Jalgaon district.” The minister also added that the kin of the deceased would be given a compensation of Rs 10 lakh. “The government will bear the cost of the treatment of the injured,” he added.
Meanwhile, Police Inspector Samadhan Nagre while speaking to Indian Express said that it was likely that the driver was driving at high speed because of which he lost control of the vehicle. Nagre said that there was a steep turn where the accident occurred, but he could not manage the vehicle and it went straight into the gorge.