A total of ten people have lost their lives in Gwalior, in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh after a speeding bus collided with an auto-rickshaw. Four others were critically injured in the Tuesday accident and are being treated in a local hospital.
The auto-rickshaw was carrying an overload of 13 people, most of whom were women headed to cook food for a function. The bus that hit the auto-rickshaw was reportedly heading to Gwalior from the neighbouring town of Morena, Ravi Bhadoriya, the city superintendent of police (CSP) revealed in a statement to the media.
The auto-rickshaw's driver, along with nine women who were riding the three-wheeled public vehicle died at the scene of the accident. Police officials are in the process of identifying the deceased.
Visuals from the crash site detail the horror of the accident. Both vehicles evidently suffered immense damage.
#BusAutoAccident #Gwalior pic.twitter.com/EEmvhJFKKL
— Radhika Parashar (@_RadhikaReports) March 23, 2021
I express my deep condolences for the bereaved family members of 10 people were killed & three others injured after an auto-rickshaw & a bus collided in #MadhyaPradesh #Gwalior, wish a speedy recovery for those who have been injured in the accident. #Its_Kamboj pic.twitter.com/ty9487yoZQ
— Sanjeev Kamboj 🇮🇳 (@kambojOffice) March 23, 2021
Shivraj Singh Chauhan, the state chief of Madhya Pradesh took to Twitter to express his grief over the incident and condolences to the families. Chauhan also announced a compensation of $5,500 for the families of each deceased as well as $700 for the injured individuals undergoing treatment.
ग्वालियर में बस और ऑटो में टक्कर से हुए भीषण हादसे में कई अनमोल जिंदगियों के असमय काल कवलित होने से बहुत दुःख पहुंचा है।
— Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) March 23, 2021
ईश्वर से दिवंगत आत्माओं को अपने श्री चरणों में स्थान और परिजनों को यह वज्रपात सहन करने की शक्ति देने की प्रार्थना करता हूं। ॐ शांति!
मैं और प्रदेश की जनता दुःख की इस घड़ी में शोकाकुल परिवारों के साथ है। वे स्वयं को अकेला ना समझें।
— Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) March 23, 2021
प्रदेश सरकार की ओर से प्रत्येक मृतक के परिवार को 4 लाख और घायलों को 50 हजार रुपए सहायता राशि दी जायेगी।