CathernQsh at 04:46, 9 May 2025

2025-05-09T04:46:15Z

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{{Short description|Fatal fire in Maharashtra, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox public transit accident
| name = 2023 Buldhana Bus Accident
| image =
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| caption =
| image_map =
| image_map_alt =
| image_map_caption =
| pushpin_map =
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| coordinates = {{Coord|19.997069|76.164424|display=inline}}
| date = 1 July 2023
| time = 2 AM IST
| location = '''Pimpalkhuta Village''' [[Sindkhed Raja|Sindkhed Raja SubDivision]], <Br> [[Buldhana district|Buldhana District]], [[Maharashtra]]
| location_dir =
| location_city = [[Buldhana]]
| location_dist_km =
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| country = {{flag|India}}
| line =
| operator = Private bus
| owner = '''Virendra Darne'''
| service =
| type = caught fire
| cause =
| bus = '''Vidarbha Travels'''
| trains =
| vehicles =
| passengers = 34
| crew =
| pedestrians =
| deaths = 26
| injuries = 8
| damage =
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}}
On 1 July 2023, a private bus named '''Vidarbha Travels''' travelling on [[Mumbai–Nagpur Expressway|Samruddhi Expressway]] in [[Maharashtra]]'s [[Buldhana district]] in India caught fire.<ref>{{Cite web |title=26 dead as bus catches fire on Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway, probe ordered |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/people-dead-bus-catches-fire-samruddhi-mahamarg-expressway-maharashtra-2400390-2023-07-01 |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=India Today |language=en |archive-date=1 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701040224/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/people-dead-bus-catches-fire-samruddhi-mahamarg-expressway-maharashtra-2400390-2023-07-01 |url-status=live }}</ref> 25 people died, and eight others were injured, in the accident.<ref name="vehicle catches fire">{{Cite news |date=2023-07-01 |title=26 bus passengers charred to death after vehicle catches fire on Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/25-bus-passengers-charred-to-death-after-vehicle-catches-fire-on-samruddhi-expressway-in-maharashtra/article67029937.ece |access-date=2023-07-01 |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=1 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701035547/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/25-bus-passengers-charred-to-death-after-vehicle-catches-fire-on-samruddhi-expressway-in-maharashtra/article67029937.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Accident==
The accident took place on a bus named Vidarbha Travels that was travelling on the [[Mumbai–Nagpur Expressway|Samruddhi Expressway]] in '''Pimpalkhuta Village''' near [[Sindkhed Raja]], [[Buldhana district|Buldhana District]], [[Maharashtra]]. The bus was being driven from [[Nagpur]] to [[Pune]]. According to reports, the bus hit a pole on the expressway, overturned, and the diesel tank caught fire. Because the bus was overturned on its left side, the passenger exit was blocked. Additionally, the emergency door was not working.<ref name="Deccan Herald">{{Cite web |date=2023-07-01 |title=25 passengers charred to death after bus catches fire on Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/west/25-passengers-charred-to-death-after-bus-catches-fire-on-samruddhi-expressway-in-maharashtra-1232892.html |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en |archive-date=1 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701044125/https://www.deccanherald.com/national/west/25-passengers-charred-to-death-after-bus-catches-fire-on-samruddhi-expressway-in-maharashtra-1232892.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="forensic report"/><ref name="Guardian">{{Cite web |date=2023-07-01 |title=Dozens dead in western India bus crash |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/01/dozens-dead-in-western-india-bus-crash |agency=Agence France-Presse |work=The Guardian}}</ref> The accident happened at about 2 am local time on 1 July 2023. There were 33 passengers on the bus. Most of the passengers were sleeping when the accident happened. 26 of them died and the remaining were injured. Three children died. The survivors escaped by breaking glass panes. The injured were taken to Buldhana Civil Hospital.<ref name="vehicle catches fire"/><ref name="Deccan Herald"/><ref name="Guardian"/><ref>{{Cite web |title="They Were Sleeping": 25 Dead As Bus Catches Fire On Maharashtra Expressway |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/maharashtra-bus-accident-25-burnt-to-death-8-injured-as-bus-catches-fire-on-maharashtra-expressway-4167955 |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=NDTV.com |archive-date=1 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701040949/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/maharashtra-bus-accident-25-burnt-to-death-8-injured-as-bus-catches-fire-on-maharashtra-expressway-4167955 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Investigation==
The investigation of the accident determined that the bus driver, Danish Shaikh, was drunk. According to a chemical analysis report, the percentage of alcohol found in the blood sample of the driver was 0.30%. Shaikh was arrested for negligent driving.<ref name="forensic report">{{Cite web |date=2023-07-07 |title=Buldhana bus tragedy: Driver was under influence of liquor when accident took place, says forensic report |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/buldhana-bus-tragedy-driver-was-under-influence-of-liquor-when-accident-took-place-says-forensic-report/article67054702.ece |work=The Hindu}}</ref> After the accident, the Maharashtra Motor Vehicle Department asked the [[Automotive Research Association of India]] to review the design and safety measures implemented in sleeper coach buses.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-05 |title=After Maharashtra Bus Accident, Design Of Sleeper Coaches To Be Probed |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/after-maharashtra-bus-accident-design-of-sleeper-coaches-to-be-probed-4178512 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref>

==Response==
Local rescue and fire brigade teams reached the accident site and extinguished the fire. Chief Minister [[Eknath Shinde]] and Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] expressed their anguish over the accident. The Maharashtra government announced a ₹5 lakhs compensation for each of the families of those who died.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-07-01 |title=Maharashtra: 25 killed as Pune-bound bus catches fire on Samruddhi Mahamarg Expressway in Buldhana |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/25-killed-several-injured-as-pune-bound-bus-catches-fire-on-samruddhi-mahamarg-expressway-buldhana-nagpur-maharashtra/articleshow/101407052.cms |access-date=2023-07-01 |issn=0971-8257 |archive-date=1 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701043132/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/25-killed-several-injured-as-pune-bound-bus-catches-fire-on-samruddhi-mahamarg-expressway-buldhana-nagpur-maharashtra/articleshow/101407052.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> The government also announced that they will bear the full cost of treatment of the injured. Due to the fire, the bodies were unidentifiable and authorities decided to conduct DNA tests to determine the identity of the victims.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-01 |title=Maharashtra Accident LIVE: 26 Dead, Rs 7L Ex Gratia Declared; Bus Was Less Than Four Years Old, Say Officials |url=https://www.news18.com/india/maharashtra-bus-accident-news-live-update-buldhana-pune-nagpur-25-dead-today-livenews-8220043.html |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=News18 |language=en |archive-date=1 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701064057/https://www.news18.com/india/maharashtra-bus-accident-news-live-update-buldhana-pune-nagpur-25-dead-today-livenews-8220043.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Road incidents in 2023}}
{{Disasters in India in 2023}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Buldhana bus accident, 2023}}
[[Category:2023 disasters in India]]
[[Category:2023 road incidents in Asia]]
[[Category:2020s in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:July 2023 in India]]
[[Category:Bus incidents in India]]
[[Category:Disasters in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Buldhana district|2023 bus accident]]

2023 Buldhana bus accident - Revision history

CathernQsh at 04:46, 9 May 2025