Nashik bus accident toll rises: At least 11 dead, including a child; 24 injured

A private bus hit a container and caught fire within few minutes in Aurangabad leaving at least 11 feared dead and injuring several

Image courtesy: ANI (Twitter)

Nashik: In an unfortunate incident, 11 people died and around 24 were injured after a bus hit a container and caught fire in Maharashtra's Nashik city early Saturday, October 8. The accident took place in Aurangabad at around 5 AM. Reportedly, a private bus hit a container and caught fire within few minutes. 

Maharashtra | At least 8 people dead after a bus caught fire in Nashik last night. Bodies & injured people have been taken to hospital, we're still trying to ascertain the exact number of deaths with doctor's confirmation: Nashik Police

— ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2022

Expressing grief over the fatal incident, Guardian Minister of Nashik, Dada Bhuse told ANI, "All injured are being treated in Nashik. Govt will bear all medical expenses of the injured." 

"Gujarat CM has announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakhs each to the next of kin of those who died in this unfortunate incident. I am also going to the spot to assess the situation," Bhuse added.

An eyewitness, who lived near the accident site, said, "The incident occurred near my house. Heavy vehicles ply here. After the incident, the bus caught fire and people were burnt to death. We saw it but could not do anything. Fire Dept & Police came later."

Officials said that the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital. The private bus, a 'sleeper' coach, had around 30 passengers. It hit the truck at Nandur Naka and caught fire in a few minutes, he said. Most of those killed and injured were bus passengers, he said. The truck was going from Dhule to Mumbai, he added.

(With agency inputs)