People gather near wreckage of a bus after it fell into a
gorge, in Dang district, Gujarat, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. At least five persons
were killed and 17 others suffered grievous injuries in the accident, police
said. (PTI Photo)
DANG (GUJURAT) — Five persons were killed and 35 others injured when a private bus
carrying pilgrims hailing from Madhya Pradesh fell into a deep gorge in
Gujarat's Dang district early Sunday morning, police said.
Among the injured persons, 17 were grievously hurt, they
said, adding the victims were on a trip to religious places across various
states in the country.
The accident took place at 4.15 am when the bus driver lost
control over the wheels near the Saputara hill station, in-charge
Superintendent of Police SG Patil said.
The bus, carrying 48 pilgrims, broke the crash barrier and
fell at a depth of about 35 feet into the gorge, he said.
The passengers started at night for Dwarka in Gujarat from
Trimbakeshwar, a religious place in Maharashtra's Nashik district.
They made a brief stop at Saputara for tea break before
resuming their journey when the accident occurred 2.5 kilometres from the hill
station, the official said.
"Five persons died on the spot and 17 others suffered
serious injuries and have been rushed to a civil hospital at Ahwa. Some others
have sustained minor injuries. The rescue operation is nearly over," the
official said.
The bus driver was among the deceased, comprising three men
and two women, according to police.
A total of 35 passengers were taken to the nearby community
health centres (CHCs) for treatment, and 17 of them were referred to the civil
hospital at Ahwa in the district, Patil said.
The pilgrims, hailing from Madhya Pradesh, had set out on
four different buses on December 23, 2024 on a trip to religious places across
various states, he said.
Dang Collector Mahesh Patel said the unfortunate incident
occurred after one of the four buses carrying the pilgrims fell into the gorge.
"As per the passengers, they had tea and breakfast at
Saputara before resuming their journey. It is likely that the driver lost
control of the vehicle due to brake failure. Medical staff are working
diligently to treat the injured persons," he said.
A team of locals and police personnel conducted the rescue
operation. They brought out the passengers from the bus and rushed them to the
CHCs for treatment.
Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior Zone Inspector General of Police
Arvind Saxena told PTI that the bus was 52-seater. It had 48 persons on board,
hence was not overcrowded, he said.
These people set off on the pilgrimage in December and were
visiting different holy places in the country, he said.
According to the initial information gathered by MP police,
the deceased have been identified as bus driver Ratan Lal Jatav, hailing from
Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh, two other men Bolaram Kushwaha, Pappu Yadav and two
women Guddi Bai and Kamlesh Bai Yadav, from Shivpuri district in MP, the
official said.
