Jaipur, April 16 (NationPress) In a tragic incident, three individuals lost their lives, and over 23 others suffered injuries due to a road mishap in the Ranpur police jurisdiction of Kota, Rajasthan.

Officials reported that the accident involved a private bus, which was confirmed late on Wednesday night.

Among the injured, approximately six to seven are in critical condition.

The collision occurred on a four-lane highway within the state. Reports indicate that the passenger bus was en route from Ahmedabad in Gujarat to Bhind-Morena in Madhya Pradesh, carrying more than 50 passengers. Near Aavli-Rojdi, within the limits of the Ranpur police station, a window of the bus unexpectedly shattered, creating a loud noise that incited panic among the passengers. This sudden disturbance distracted the driver, leading to the bus veering off control. It crossed over the central divider, entered the oncoming lane, and flipped over with a tremendous crash.

The collision caused chaos inside the bus, with passengers screaming and desperately seeking assistance. Local residents hurried to the scene to aid the victims before the police could arrive.

An injured female passenger reported that the bus had paused briefly at a midway stop, allowing passengers to rest. She mentioned that the driver had been swapped out just 15 minutes prior to the incident, which had already made some passengers uneasy.

Upon receiving the alert, police, administrative crews, and the fire brigade swiftly reached the location and commenced rescue operations. Local community members also joined in the relief efforts.

According to DSP Manish Sharma, three individuals perished at the scene, while six to seven injured passengers remain in critical condition. All critically hurt victims were transported to the New Medical College Hospital for ongoing treatment. Rescue operations continued into the late hours of the night.

District Collector Piyush Samariya, City SP Tejaswini Gautam, and other officials arrived at the site to monitor the situation.

Among the deceased, two were identified as Dharmendra and Krishna, both from Bhind (Madhya Pradesh). Police reported that they were seated in the driver’s cabin when the bus overturned and the front windshield shattered, resulting in them being thrown onto the roadway. Tragically, a trailer coming from the opposite direction ran over them, causing their deaths.

The injured include residents from Gwalior: Devendra, Poonam, Pari, Somveer, and Satyam. Additionally, Ramdulare, Naveen, Naina, and Pooja from Bhind suffered injuries, primarily affecting their heads and legs. The identities of several other injured passengers remain unverified.