Gujarat bus accident: 2 women dead, 20 hurt in Junagadh pilgrim bus overturn
Synopsis
A pilgrim bus carrying 50 members of the Gadhvi community from Bhavnagar to Dwarka and Somnath overturned in Junagadh after hitting a nilgai, killing two women and injuring nearly 20 others. The wildlife-highway collision underscores a persistent road safety hazard on rural Gujarat's highways.
Key Takeaways
Two women were killed and nearly 20 passengers injured in a bus overturn near Rahij village , Mangrol taluka, Junagadh on 3 May 2025 .
The bus was carrying around 50 pilgrims from Bhavnagar of the Gadhvi community , heading to Dwarka and Somnath .
The accident was triggered when a nilgai suddenly entered the highway; the animal also died in the collision.
The injured were shifted to hospitals in Keshod and Junagadh Civil Hospital via 108 ambulances .
A case has been registered; post-mortem examinations are underway and the driver is assisting the investigation.
Two women were killed and nearly 20 passengers were injured after a private bus carrying pilgrims overturned in Junagadh district, Gujarat, on Saturday, 3 May 2025, following a collision with a nilgai on a highway near Rahij village in Mangrol taluka. The accident occurred at around 3 pm, according to police.
What Happened
The private bus was transporting approximately 50 passengers — mostly women — from Bhavnagar, all belonging to the Gadhvi community, on a religious pilgrimage to Dwarka and Somnath. Police said the driver lost control after a nilgai suddenly entered the highway, causing the vehicle to overturn. The nilgai also died in the collision.
The impact resulted in the immediate death of two women at the scene, while several others sustained injuries of varying severity. The injured bus driver remained at the spot and was assisting police teams in their investigation.
What the Police Said
Speaking to IANS, Deputy Superintendent of Police D.V. Kodiyatar confirmed the casualties. "Two women have died. Around 50 people, mostly women, were on the bus, along with two men. All were from Bhavnagar and belonged to the Gadhvi community. The bus struck a nilgai, which also died in the accident. The driver is injured and has been with the police teams at the spot. Nearly 20 injured persons have been referred to Junagadh Civil Hospital," he said.
Rescue and Relief Operations
Emergency services, including 108 ambulances, were swiftly deployed to shift the injured to hospitals in Keshod and Junagadh Civil Hospital. Local residents rushed to the site shortly after the accident and assisted in rescue operations. An excavator was later used to remove the overturned bus and clear the highway for traffic, which had slowed due to congestion before being restored.
Legal Proceedings and Next Steps
A case has been registered by police, and further legal proceedings are underway, including post-mortem examinations of the deceased. The driver, who sustained injuries, is cooperating with the investigation. This incident underscores the recurring hazard posed by wildlife crossings on highways in rural Gujarat, where nilgai sightings on roads have been linked to several accidents in recent years.
Point of View
Yet infrastructure responses — underpasses, fencing, signage — have lagged behind the documented risk. A nilgai killing two pilgrims on their way to Somnath is a tragedy that was, in statistical terms, foreseeable. The state's highway authorities and the wildlife department need a joint audit of high-incidence corridors; filing a case against a driver who had no warning is not a systemic solution. Until animal crossing infrastructure is treated as a safety imperative rather than an ecological nicety, such accidents will recur.
NationPress
5 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the Junagadh bus accident on 3 May 2025?
A nilgai suddenly entered the highway near Rahij village in Mangrol taluka, causing the driver to lose control and the bus to overturn. The nilgai also died in the collision.
How many people were killed or injured in the Junagadh pilgrim bus accident?
Two women were killed at the scene and nearly 20 passengers were injured. The injured were referred to hospitals in Keshod and Junagadh Civil Hospital.
Who were the passengers on the overturned bus?
The bus carried approximately 50 passengers from Bhavnagar belonging to the Gadhvi community, who were on a religious pilgrimage to Dwarka and Somnath.
What action has been taken after the Junagadh bus accident?
Police have registered a case and post-mortem examinations of the deceased are underway. The injured driver remained at the scene and is assisting the investigation.
Where were the injured taken after the Junagadh bus accident?
Emergency 108 ambulances transported the injured to hospitals in Keshod and Junagadh Civil Hospital. Local residents also assisted in rescue operations before the highway was cleared using an excavator.
