AccidentNews – Four Killed After Luxury Bus Bursts Into Flames in Gujarat
AccidentNews – A devastating road accident in Gujarat’s Surendranagar district claimed the lives of four passengers and left at least 10 others injured after a private luxury bus caught fire following a collision with a tanker carrying asphalt material early Thursday morning.
The incident occurred at around 1.30 am near Sangani village on the Chotila-Rajkot National Highway, according to local police officials. Authorities said the bus was travelling from Ahmedabad to Rajkot when it reportedly crashed into the tanker moving ahead on the highway.
Fire Erupts Moments After Collision
Officials stated that the impact of the collision triggered a massive blaze, quickly engulfing the luxury bus. Several passengers were asleep when the accident took place, creating panic inside the vehicle as flames spread rapidly.
Rescue teams and local residents rushed to help passengers escape from the burning bus. Police confirmed that nearly 40 passengers were travelling in the vehicle at the time of the accident. Many were safely pulled out before the fire intensified.
Deputy Superintendent of Police SS Bhadoriya said emergency teams responded immediately after receiving information about the incident. Firefighters later managed to control the blaze after extensive efforts at the accident site.
Four Passengers Die in the Incident
Authorities confirmed that four passengers lost their lives after being trapped inside the bus during the fire. The victims were severely charred, making identification difficult in the initial stages.
Deputy Collector HT Makwana said the collision involved a tanker loaded with asphalt material, which may have contributed to the intensity of the fire after the crash.
Officials have not yet released the identities of the deceased, and further investigation is underway to determine the exact sequence of events that led to the accident.
Injured Shifted to Rajkot Civil Hospital
Police said at least 10 passengers sustained burn injuries and other wounds in the incident. Ambulances transported the injured individuals to Rajkot Civil Hospital, where they are currently undergoing treatment.
Medical teams at the hospital are monitoring the condition of the injured passengers, while local authorities continue to provide assistance to affected families.
Meanwhile, the bodies of the deceased were transferred to Chotila Referral Hospital for postmortem examinations. Officials said legal procedures related to identification and documentation are being carried out.
Investigation Underway Into Cause of Crash
Police have started an investigation into the accident to determine whether overspeeding, driver fatigue, or poor visibility during night travel played a role in the collision.
Traffic on the Chotila-Rajkot National Highway was briefly disrupted following the incident as rescue operations and firefighting efforts continued through the night. Authorities later cleared the damaged vehicles from the road and restored normal traffic movement.
Road accidents involving passenger buses and heavy vehicles remain a major safety concern on highways across the country, especially during late-night travel hours. Officials have urged transport operators to follow safety guidelines and ensure regular vehicle inspections to prevent such tragedies.