Dang (Gujarat), Feb 2. A private luxury bus carrying pilgrims fell into a deep gorge near Saputara hill station in the Dang district of Gujarat on Sunday morning. Five people died in this tragic accident, while 17 others were injured.
In-charge Superintendent of Police SG Patil said that the accident took place near Saputara hill station around 4-4:30 am. The driver lost control of the vehicle, and the bus fell into a deep gorge.
He said that more than 40 pilgrims were on board the bus. The bus broke the crash barrier and fell into a 35-foot deep gorge.
The official said that five people died on the spot, including two women and three men.
“Apart from the deaths of five pilgrims, 17 others were seriously injured. The injured have been admitted to the civil hospital in Ahwa. Some others have sustained minor injuries. The rescue operation is almost complete,” the official said.
The bus was carrying 40 pilgrims from Maharashtra’s Trimbakeshwar to Dwarka in Gujarat, where they were on a pilgrimage since December 23, he said.
“After visiting various places in Uttar Pradesh, they were returning after visiting Shirdi, Trimbakeshwar, Nashik last yesterday or day before yesterday. They stopped at Gujarat’s hill station Saputara on Sunday morning. They had tea and then within 10 minutes, their bus fell into a deep gorge within three to four kilometres,” a police official said.
The pilgrims were from Madhya Pradesh’s Guna, Shivpuri and Ashok Nagar districts, the official said.
