At least seven people were killed and more than 10 others injured after two passenger buses collided near Bardoli in Gujarat’s Surat district on Tuesday afternoon, officials said.
The accident occurred when a bus driver reportedly lost control while attempting to avoid an overturned tanker on the highway. The bus crossed the central divider and entered the opposite carriageway, where it collided head-on with another bus approaching from the opposite direction.
Both buses, registered in Maharashtra, were travelling at speed when the crash took place. Following the impact, one of the buses overturned on the roadside and caught fire, trapping several passengers inside.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene and launched rescue operations. Firefighters brought the blaze under control after nearly 30 minutes, allowing rescue teams to evacuate passengers and recover victims.
Many passengers were unable to escape before the fire spread through the overturned vehicle, contributing to the death toll.
Surat Collector Tejas Patel said the accident occurred at around 4.30 pm. He confirmed that 17 injured passengers were being treated at the Bardoli Primary Health Centre and that none of them were in critical condition.
The injured have been admitted to three different hospitals in the region. Seven patients have been referred to Surat Civil Hospital for specialised treatment, with three reported to be in serious condition.
Police have launched an investigation to establish the exact sequence of events leading to the collision. Authorities are also examining the circumstances surrounding the overturned tanker that is believed to have triggered the accident.
The incident is among the deadliest road accidents reported in Gujarat in recent months and has renewed concerns about highway safety and emergency response mechanisms on busy inter-state routes.
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