Seven persons, including a senior citizen and a minor, were killed when their car collided with a State transport bus on the Mumbai-Goa highway early on Sunday morning.
According to the Mangaon police in Raigad, the incident occurred at Nagroli village near Indapur at around 6 a.m. Six members of a family from Ratnagiri were travelling to Goa in a Maruti WagonR, which was being driven by a hired driver. It collided with a Shivneri bus, which was travelling in the opposite direction.
Villagers and motorists rushed to help the victims and informed the police. Personnel from the Mangaon police station and the Maharashtra Highway Police reached the spot. The area was cordoned off to facilitate movement of ambulances, and traffic was diverted.
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The occupants of the WagonR were taken to the government hospital in Mangaon where six of them were declared dead before admission, while the seventh succumbed later in the day, said officials.
Apart from the driver and the conductor, the bus had a relief driver and 24 passengers, of whom two sustained minor injuries. They were administered preliminary medical aid and discharged.
“We are recording statements of the occupants of the bus and are looking for any independent witnesses. A fatal accident report has been registered, and future course of action will be decided after inquiries are complete,” said an officer with the Mangaon police.
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The deceased have been identified as Swati (35), Swapnil (35), Rushabh (8), Suryakant (37), Bhikuram (72) and Satish Tambe (43), and Pravin Pandav (39). The Tambes hailed from Mandangad in Ratnagiri, while Pandav was a resident of Dombivli in the Thane district.
“While the exact sequence of events is still being investigated, the extent of the damage sustained by both the vehicles is an indicator that one or both the vehicles might have been travelling at a high speed. The sturdy structure of the Shivneri bus saved its occupants from any serious injuries, but its front end was damaged. We are now verifying whether there was reckless driving,” the officer said.