Vadodara bus-truck crash kills 7, Modi and Shah express grief
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Seven people were killed and 28 others injured — two of them critically — after a luxury bus rammed into a stationary truck on the Vadodara-Jarod Road in Vadodara Rural, Gujarat, in the early hours of Wednesday, 17 June. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah both expressed condolences over the deaths.
How the Accident Unfolded
The collision occurred at approximately 4 am near Kotambi village, when a luxury bus travelling from Banswara, Rajasthan, to Surat struck the rear of a truck that had pulled over on the roadside. According to preliminary details, the truck driver had stopped to check tyre pressure at the time of impact.
The front portion of the bus was severely damaged, trapping several passengers inside. Local residents and passing motorists alerted authorities and assisted in initial rescue efforts before emergency teams reached the scene.
Rescue Operations at the Site
Police, fire brigade personnel, and teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) conducted rescue operations at the crash site. Firefighters deployed mechanical cutting equipment to separate the vehicles and free trapped passengers from the wreckage. Most passengers aboard the bus were from Rajasthan.
The injured were shifted to Sir Sayajirao General Hospital and other medical facilities in Vadodara, where treatment is ongoing.
What the Government Said
Prime Minister Modi, in a post on social media platform X, said he was saddened by the incident and extended his thoughts to the bereaved families. 'Saddened to hear about the loss of lives due to a mishap in Vadodara Rural, Gujarat. My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest,' the Prime Minister said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also took to X, describing the incident as 'extremely tragic' and confirming that local administration was providing medical assistance to the injured. 'The accident that occurred on the Vadodara-Jarod Road in Gujarat is extremely tragic. My condolences are with those who have lost their loved ones in this accident. The local administration is providing medical facilities to the injured. I pray for the speedy recovery of those who have been injured,' Shah said.
State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Jagdish Vishwakarma called the incident 'extremely shocking and painful', offering tributes to those who died and prayers for the recovery of the injured.
Investigation Under Way
Police have initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision. The death toll stands at seven, with two passengers reported to be in critical condition as of Wednesday. This comes amid recurring concerns about road safety on national highways in Gujarat, where late-night and early-morning long-distance bus services have been involved in multiple fatal crashes in recent years.