33 killed as bus carrying university staff members falls into gorge in Maharashtra
Mumbai, July 28 (IBNS): All but one passengers of a bus, carrying staff members of a university, were reportedly killed when the vehicle fell into a 500-foot gorge in Maharashtra's Raigad district on Saturday afternoon, reports said.
Confirming the death toll, District Collector Vijay Suryawanshi told the Indian Express, “33 of 34 passengers in a bus killed after it fell into a gorge near Poladpur in Raigad district today.”
According to reports, 34 staff members of Dapoli Agricultural University had left for a picnic to Mahabaleshwar on Saturday morning and had crossed hardly 15 kilometres on the Mahabaleshwar – Poladpur road when the bus skidded off the road near Ambenali ghat before falling into a deep gorge.
A person identified as Prakash Sawant has been pulled out alive from the mangled remains of the bus.
However, the Superintendent of Police of Satar said the bus was carrying 35 passengers.
NDRF teams have been rushed to the area and rescue operations are on. Local trekkers are also on the job.
Ambulances and doctors have also reached the spot.
Expressing shock at the tragic incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: "Pained by the loss of lives due to a bus accident in Maharashtra's Raigad district. My condolences to those who lost their loved ones:"
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also expressed his condolences and said the government was doing everything it could to help.
"Pained to know about the loss of lives in the Mahabaleshwar bus accident. Administration taking all efforts to provide the required assistance. Senior officials and emergency management systems in place. My thoughts are with the families who lost loved ones and prayers for speedy recovery of injured," he tweeted.
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