At least four passengers lost their lives, and around 10 others sustained injuries when a private bus traveling from Ahmedabad to Rajkot collided with a bitumen tanker and caught fire on the Rajkot-Chotila highway near Sangani village in Gujarat. The tragic incident occurred between 1:30 a.m. and 2 a.m. near Chotila in Surendranagar district, as reported by officials.
Initial investigations indicate that the tanker, loaded with asphalt, experienced a tire burst while in motion on the highway, leading to a loss of control over the vehicle. Subsequently, the luxury bus following behind collided heavily with the tanker. The impact caused a short circuit in the bus, resulting in a rapid outbreak of flames.
Authorities mentioned that the bus, carrying approximately 40 passengers at the time of the accident, witnessed a chaotic scene. While several passengers were rescued post-collision, regrettably, four individuals were unable to escape and perished in the fire. The injured were rushed to Rajkot Civil Hospital for medical treatment, while the deceased were taken to Chotila Referral Hospital for post-mortem examinations.
Eyewitnesses and locals played a crucial role in the rescue operation, breaking bus windows to extricate trapped passengers before the arrival of fire brigade teams. The leaking bitumen from the tanker aggravated the fire, posing challenges to the firefighting efforts. Among the injured were individuals like Vidhi Patodiya, 18, from Junagadh district, Narendra Rathod, 50, from Limbdi, and Nagaraj Rana, 30, from Gir Somnath district.
Police reported that some of the injured passengers sustained burns, while others incurred fractures while attempting to escape the flames by jumping from the bus. The accident caused significant traffic disruptions on the highway for an extended period, with authorities initiating an investigation into the incident.
