• Source:JND
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At Least Thirteen people were killed and over 25 persons sustained injuries after a bus fell into a ditch on the old Mumbai-Pune highway in the Khopoli area of Raigad in the early hours of Saturday, Maharashtra police said. Currently, rescue operations are underway on the accident spot, police added.

After the incident, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde expressed deep grief over the bus accident on the old Mumbai-Pune highway, he also spoke to Raigad Collector and SP & also the team engaged in the rescue operation. "A compensation of Rs 5 lakh will be given to the family members of the deceased and free treatment of the injured will be done in the government hospital, he said. 

He also visited the hospital where the injured people from the accident were admitted. 

Maharashtra Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis said, "This was a very unfortunate incident that happened in Raigad's Khopoli area. There were 41 passengers on that bus, 13 passengers died on the spot, rest of the passengers have been taken out. Those injured are under treatment. Those who lost their lives will get financial help from the govt. An inquiry has been ordered to find a reason behind the accident.

The private bus carrying members of a traditional music troupe was going from Pune to Mumbai when it fell into the gorge near Shingroba temple on the highway around 4.50 am, a senior police official added. The accident occurred under the Khopoli police station limits.

According to Raigad Superintendent of Police (SP) "There were 40 to 45 people in the bus, out of which, 12 people have died while more than 25 people are injured, the rescue is still underway, a crane has been called to pull out the bus."

Visuals from the site show the bus falling into a ditch, and the window and the roof of the ill-fated vehicle were completely damaged in the accident.

"The bus was carrying members of 'Baji Prabhu Vaadak Group' from Mumbai's Goregaon. They were returning to Goregaon after taking part in an event in the Pimpri Chinchwad area in the Pune district. The bus had left the venue around 1 am on Saturday," official said.

The deceased and the injured were from Sion and Goregaon in Mumbai and Virar in neighbouring Palghar district, Raigad Superintendent of Police (SP) Somnath Gharge said. The injured were admitted to the Khopoli Rural Hospital, he added.

Additional SP Atul Zende said, mostly the deceased and the injured belonged to the age group of 18 to 25. A team of local police and a trekker's group are currently engaged in the rescue operation, police said.