The luxury bus was going from Surat to Valsad.
Nine people died and 29 were injured in a horrific crash between a bus and an SUV car in Gujarat's Navsari district early on Saturday morning. A bus full of people returning from the Pramukh Swami Maharaj Shatabdi Mahotsav event from Surat rammed into a Toyota Fortuner car on the Navsari national highway number 48 after the driver suffered a heart attack and lost control of the vehicle. He was taken to a hospital for treatment, where he died. Eight of the nine occupants of the car died, and 29 people in the bus were injured. 11 were taken to a private hospital. The luxury bus was going from Surat to Valsad.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief, and announced compensation for the victims.
"Pained by the loss of lives due to a road accident in Navsari. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. I hope the injured recover soon. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. Those injured would be given Rs. 50,000," he tweeted.
Pained by the loss of lives due to a road accident in Navsari. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. I hope the injured recover soon. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. Those injured would be given Rs. 50,000: PM Modi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) December 31, 2022
The accident occurred near Vesma village, while the SUV was coming from the opposite direction, Navsari Superintendent of Police (SP) Rushikesh Upadhyay said.
Those travelling in the SUV were residents of Ankleshwar in Gujarat, and they were on their way back to their hometown from Valsad, Mr Upadhyay said, adding that the passengers of the bus were from Valsad.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah condoled the deaths in a Twitter post.
"The road accident in Gujarat's Navsari is heartbreaking. My condolences to those who have lost their families in this tragedy. May God give them the strength to bear the pain. The local administration is giving immediate treatment to the injured, praying for their speedy recovery," he tweeted in Gujarati.
ગુજરાતના નવસારીમાં થયેલ સડક દુર્ઘટના હૃદયદ્રાવક છે. આ દુર્ઘટનામાં જેમણે પોતાના પરિજનો ગુમાવ્યા છે તેમના પ્રત્યે સંવેદના વ્યક્ત કરું છું. ભગવાન તેમને દુ:ખ સહન કરવાની શક્તિ આપે. સ્થાનિક વહીવટીતંત્ર ઘાયલોને તાત્કાલિક સારવાર આપી રહ્યું છે, તેઓની ઝડપથી સ્વસ્થ થવાની પ્રાર્થના કરુ છું.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) December 31, 2022
The crash led to traffic disruption on the highway, after which the police got the bus removed from the road using a crane and traffic resumed as usual.
PM Modi had addressed the inaugural function of the Pramukh Swami Maharaj Shatabdi Mahotsav in Ahmedabad on December 14.
In this programme, I can see every aspect of India's vibrancy and diversity. I want to appreciate the saints and seers for thinking of a programme of this nature and at such a scale. People from all over the world are coming to pay homage to HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj Ji: PM Modi pic.twitter.com/fVeJCfTxad
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) December 14, 2022
The event started on December 15, and is scheduled to go on till January 15, 2023.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
