Sikar, India – A severe bus accident in the Sikar district of Rajasthan on Tuesday claimed the lives of 13 individuals and left more than 35 others injured. The accident involved a private bus that struck a concrete culvert while traveling from Salasar to Nawalgarh, an area known for its rich cultural and religious heritage.
Traveling at a speed of about 50 mph, the bus encountered difficulty while navigating a bridge near Laxmangarh, ultimately crashing and breaking in half upon impact. The severe collision resulted in immediate fatalities and numerous injuries, necessitating urgent medical responses.
Local authorities reported that two passengers were pronounced dead at the accident scene. Additional fatalities occurred as three more succumbed to their injuries during emergency surgery. Of those hospitalized, 23 are currently receiving treatment for severe injuries at local medical facilities, with some in critical condition transferred to specialized hospitals in Jaipur.
In response to the tragedy, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma expressed profound sorrow and extended his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. He underscored the importance of providing full support to the injured and directed officials to ensure all necessary medical care is accessible. His sentiments were shared on the social media platform X, emphasizing national solidarity in the face of such devastating incidents.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that the inability of the bus to navigate the turn on the bridge led to the catastrophic accident. Immediate rescue efforts were undertaken by local residents and passersby, who were soon joined by emergency service teams.
To aid those affected by the incident, the Indian government has announced a compensation package for the victims’ families. Families of the deceased will receive $2,378 each, whereas the injured will be given $595 to help cover medical expenses.
This incident adds to a troubling pattern of bus accidents in India, highlighting continual concerns over road safety. Notably, it follows a similar incident this past August, where a bus fell into a river in Nepal’s Tanahun district, killing 27 people, including tourists from India. Both incidents underline critical issues around vehicle safety and the challenging conditions of mountainous and rural roadways.
Road safety experts argue that these repeated bus crashes are indicative of broader systemic problems, including inadequate safety standards for vehicles and poorly maintained infrastructure in hilly regions. They call for immediate action, suggesting that stricter regulations and better road maintenance could reduce the frequency and severity of such incidents.
For now, those injured in the Sikar district crash face a long recovery, and the community mourns the irreplaceable loss of lives, hoping for effective measures that prevent future tragedies on India’s roads.