Buldhana Accident: Death Toll More As Most Passengers Were Sleeping At Time Of Accident, Say Reports

At least 26 people died after a bus carrying 33 passengers burst into flames on the Samruddhi Mahamarg expressway in Maharashtra's Buldhana.

According to reports, most of the passengers were sleeping at the time of the accident, and only a few people who were awake could escape the fire by breaking out of windows after the bus got into the accident.

The private bus was on its way from Nagpur to Pune when it rammed into the divider around 1.30 am near Sindkhedraja and caught fire, police said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he is deeply saddened by the tragic bus accident in Maharashtra's Buldhana, and announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakhs each to the next of kin of the deceased and financial assistance of Rs 50,000 each to those injured.

"Deeply saddened by the devastating bus mishap in Buldhana, Maharashtra. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is providing all possible assistance to the affected," PMO tweeted.

"An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the bus mishap in Buldhana. Rs. 50,000 would be given to the injured," it added.