- Monday, March 10, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
At least 12 people, including a child, were charred to death while 30 were injured after a bus caught fire in Nashik in the western Indian state of Maharashtra early on Saturday (8) morning, officials said.
The vehicle caught fire after hitting a trailer lorry that was transporting diesel on the highway between Nashik and Aurangabad, also in the state, they added.
“Most of those killed were passengers of the bus – a sleeper coach. The injured have been shifted to the hospital for treatment,” Amol Tambe, deputy commissioner of police, Nashik, said.
Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde meets the injured of the bus-truck collision incident that occurred in Nashik earlier this morning. pic.twitter.com/bsB5LlK7Ki
— ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2022
He said a case has been registered and probe was underway to ascertain why the fire started.
Videos showed a huge ball of fire engulfing the bus as firemen tried to douse the flames.
According to eyewitnesses, the accident took place at around 5.15 am local time after which they called the police and ambulance.
They said the fire was so intense that they were helpless in saving those inside the bus.
Prime minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief over the accident and announced a financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh (£2,178) each for the families who have lost a member in the accident. The injured would be given Rs 50,000 (£544).
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: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 8, 2022
Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde also announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh (£5,448) each to the kin of those who died in the accident.
The Maharashtra government will also bear the medical expenses of the injured, said Dada Bhuse, guardian minister of Nashik.
The death toll may go up as the conditions of some of the injured were serious, the officials said.
