A bus and a tanker collidedon Wednesday in Bhandiyawas village on Jodhpur National Highway in Barmerdistrict of Rajasthan. The bus and the tanker caught fire after a head-oncollision near Sanskar School.
The accident happened at10.30 am. At least eleven people died and several others sufferedinjuries. According to media reports, there were around 25 people travelling onthe bus. Police and district administration officials have reached thespot. Rescue personnel have pulled out 10 bodies from the mishap site so far.
"Total 8 dead so far inthe collision near Pachpadra in Rajasthan's Barmer district," SP DeepakBhargava said.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot hasdirected District Collector to ensure medical treatment for the injured.
After the information, thefire brigade of Pachpadra, Balotra and Refinery reached the spot. The collision was so severethat the entire bus was engulfed in flames. Rescue teams were unable toenter the bus even hours after the flames were doused, said police.
Barmer district collector Lok Bandhu, superintendent ofpolice Deepak Bhargava, Pachpadra MLA Madan Prajapat, minister in-charge Sukhram Vishnoi and others reached the spot.
PM Narendra Modi tweeted, “It is saddening that people have lost theirlives due to a bus-tanker collision at the Barmer-Jodhpur Highway in Rajasthan.In this hour of grief, my condolences to the bereaved families. I pray that theinjured have a quick recovery. An ex-gratiaof Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of those wholost their lives due to the accident at the Barmer-Jodhpur Highway inRajasthan. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000 each.”