Maharashtra bus accident: Survivors break windows to flee raging fire
2 min read 02 Jul 2023, 06:45 AM ISTA luxury bus carrying 33 people caught fire on the Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway, leaving 25 trapped inside. Several passengers were able to escape through broken windows, but the cause of the accident is still under investigation.
PremiumWitnesses and survivors of the Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway accident recounted a terrifying and desperate scene following the crash of a luxury bus carrying 33 people. They described the aftermath as a horrifying and helpless moment, with charred bodies and mangled steel strewn about.
As the bus caught fire, 25 individuals remained trapped inside, and their attempts to escape proved futile. The situation quickly escalated as the flames engulfed the vehicle, intensifying the sense of horror and despair.
Ayush Ghatge, who was a passenger on the bus that departed from Butibori, a suburb of Nagpur, shared his account of escaping the engulfed bus. Ghatge described how he broke a window and managed to crawl out of the burning vehicle, ensuring his own survival.
“I was on the last seat and sleeping when the accident took place. I woke up when a few people fell on me after the accident. I immediately stood up and started looking for a window to come out. I started breaking a window and three of us came out with each other’s help," news agency PTI quoted Ghatge as saying.
According to an anonymous survivor, recounting the incident under the condition of anonymity, the bus collided with a divider, causing it to overturn and land on its left side. It was reported that a tire of the bus burst upon impact, leading to an immediate outbreak of fire. The flames rapidly spread throughout the vehicle. The survivor mentioned that they and another passenger sitting nearby were able to escape the bus by breaking the rear window. The precise cause of the accident, however, is yet to be determined and remains under investigation.
A local resident said, “Many accidents take place on this highway. We were called for help and when we went there, we saw the horrible situation...The tyres had fallen apart. People inside were trying to break the windows. We saw people getting burnt alive...The fire was so intense that we could not do anything. We were in tears...," the resident said, asking not to be named.
Among the fatalities were Kaliash Gangawane, a 52-year-old English teacher, his wife Kanchan Gangawane, 41, and their 21-year-old daughter Rutuja Gangawane. Rupesh Gangawane, a relative of the family, stated that the couple's son had recently gained admission to a law school in Nagpur. The family had been on their way back after bidding farewell to him when the tragic accident occurred.
“The four had gone to Nagpur on Wednesday. We came to know about the accident at 5:30am. One of our relatives, who is a policeman, informed me that the charred bodies of the three were found embracing each other," he said.
(With inputs from agencies)
