A passenger bus collided with a truck in Gujarat on Tuesday, killing at least five to seven people [1, 2].
The accident highlights the ongoing risks of highway safety in the region, particularly involving heavy-vehicle collisions on high-traffic transit corridors.
Emergency teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were rushed to the scene to assist in rescue operations [1]. The bus was carrying 45 passengers at the time of the crash [1].
Reports regarding the exact location and casualty count vary. Mirror Now said that five people died and 40 others were injured [1], placing the incident near Kotambi village on the Vadodara-Halol road [1]. However, LiveMint said that at least seven people died [2] and located the crash near Surat [2].
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences following the tragedy. He said an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh would be provided for the next of kin of those killed in the collision [2].
Local authorities have not yet detailed the specific cause of the collision. The NDRF continued operations to clear the wreckage, and transport the injured to nearby medical facilities [1].
“The bus was carrying 45 passengers at the time of the crash.”
The discrepancy in reported death tolls and locations suggests initial chaos in reporting common during mass-casualty road accidents. The involvement of the NDRF and the immediate financial intervention from the Prime Minister's office indicate the scale of the tragedy and the government's priority in managing public sentiment following such disasters.
