Bus falls into gorge, claims 33 lives; Gandhi, Modi offer condolences and assistance
An ill-fated bus carrying 34 people to Mahabaleshwar for a picnic fell into a deep gorge off Ambenali Ghat and claimed 33 lives in Raigad district on July 28. The death toll was confirmed by Raigad collector Vijay Suryawanshi.
Prakash Sawant Desai, was the only person who survived the accident as he jumped out of the bus, said police inspector Balkrushna Jadhav of Raigad police.
The mishap took place in Poladpur, around 200 km from Mumbai, according to state highway traffic officials.
Police reported that the passengers were from Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, an agricultural university at Dapoli in Ratnagiri district, and were going on a picnic to Mahabaleshawar. While taking a sharp turn at Poladpur around 11.30 am, the driver lost control and the bus fell into the gorge.
A National Disaster Response Force team from Pune was roped in to help with the casualties as well as local rescuers and policemen from Poladpur station rushed to the spot for rescue operations.
#Maharashtra: Bus falls down a mountain road in Ambenali Ghat, in Raigad district, several feared injured; NDRF team rushed to the spot of the accident
— ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2018
#UPDATE: 30 people died after a bus fell down a mountain road in Ambenali Ghat, in Raigad district. Rescue operation underway #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/UP4yEQgDXM
— ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2018
Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter to extend his sympathies and requested all possible help from his party members in the vicinity.
I’m sorry to hear about the terrible bus accident in Raigad, Maharashtra in which a large number of people have been killed and many others injured. I appeal to Congress party workers in the area to provide all possible assistance to the injured & families of those who have died.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 28, 2018
Narendra Modi too offered his condolences and grieved over the loss of lives in the mishap.
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: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 28, 2018
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