12 dead, 27 Injured As Bus Falls Into Ditch In Maharashtra's Raigad

The private bus carrying members of a traditional music troupe was going from Pune to Mumbai when it fell into the gorge in Raigad district.

New Delhi: At least 12 persons were killed and 27 others injured after the bus they were travelling in fell into a gorge on the old Mumbai-Pune highway in Raigad district of Maharashtra early on Saturday, police said. The private bus carrying members of a traditional music troupe was going from Pune to Mumbai when it fell into the gorge near Shingroba temple on the highway around 4.50 am, a senior police official said. The accident occurred under the Khopoli police station limits.

"The bus was carrying members of 'Baji Prabhu Vaadak Group' from Mumbai's Goregaon. They were returning to Goregaon after taking part in an event in Pimpri Chinchwad area in Pune district. The bus had left the venue around 1 am on Saturday," he said, adding that at least 12 persons were killed and 27 others injured in the accident.

#WATCH | Maharashtra: Rescue operation underway in Raigad's Khopoli area where 12 people died and over 25 others were injured after a bus fell into a ditch. pic.twitter.com/VHYGDBjyNp — ANI (@ANI) April 15, 2023

The deceased and the injured were from Sion and Goregaon in Mumbai and Virar in neighbouring Palghar district, Raigad Superintendent of Police (SP) Somnath Gharge said. 

The injured were admitted to the Khopoli Rural Hospital, he added. Additional SP Atul Zende said the deceased and the injured belonged to the age group of 18 to 25. 

A team of local police and a trekker's group are currently engaged in the rescue operation, police said. Khopoli town is located around 70 km from Mumbai.

Maharashtra| 7 people died & more than 25 injured after a bus fell into a ditch in Raigad's Khopoli area. Rescue operations underway: Raigad SP pic.twitter.com/kneqn5M4A5 — ANI (@ANI) April 15, 2023

Amit Shah Enquirs About Raigad Road Accident 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday spoke to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis, and enquired about the road accident that took place in Raigad district.

"The road accident in Raigad, Maharashtra is very sad. Talked to Chief Minister @mieknathshinde and Deputy Chief Minister @Dev_Fadnavis in this regard. The local administration is engaged in relief work. I express my condolences to the families of the deceased and wish the injured a speedy recovery," he said in a tweet in Hindi.

महाराष्ट्र के रायगढ़ में हुआ सड़क हादसा दुःखद है। इस संबंध में मुख्यमंत्री @mieknathshinde जी व उपमुख्यमंत्री @Dev_Fadnavis जी से बात हुई। स्थानीय प्रशासन राहत कार्य में लगा है। मृतकों के परिजनों के प्रति संवेदना व्यक्त करता हूँ और घायलों के शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की कामना करता हूँ। — Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 15, 2023