A bus and a tanker collided on Wednesday in Bhandiyawas village on Jodhpur National Highway in Barmer district of Rajasthan. The bus and the tanker caught fire after a head-on collision near Sanskar School.
The accident happened at 10.30 am. At least eleven people died and several others suffered injuries. According to media reports, there were around 25 people travelling on the bus. Police and district administration officials have reached the spot. Rescue personnel have pulled out 10 bodies from the mishap site so far.
"Total 8 dead so far in the collision near Pachpadra in Rajasthan's Barmer district," SP Deepak Bhargava said.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has directed District Collector to ensure medical treatment for the injured.
After the information, the fire brigade of Pachpadra, Balotra and Refinery reached the spot. The collision was so severe that the entire bus was engulfed in flames. Rescue teams were unable to enter the bus even hours after the flames were doused, said police.
Barmer district collector Lok Bandhu, superintendent of
police Deepak Bhargava, Pachpadra MLA Madan Prajapat, minister in-charge Sukhram Vishnoi and others reached the spot.
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PM Narendra Modi tweeted, “It is saddening that people have lost their lives 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 the injured have a quick recovery. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of those who lost their lives due to the accident at the Barmer-Jodhpur Highway in Rajasthan. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000 each.”