On Friday, a total of 13 people lost their lives and 3 were left injured as a bus fell into the Panchganga river at Kholapur in Western Maharashtra. Anil Shinde, a Kolhapur Police Official said the incident took place around 11:45 P.M., on Friday, when the vehicle carrying 3 families was returning from Ganpatipule. Ganpatipule is a picnic destination of coastal Konkan. He further added the deceased include 3 men, 3 women, seven children and a nine month old baby.
It is said the police and the fire brigade rushed to the spot as a passerby alerted the Kolhapur police. The driver lost control of the vehicle, hitting the railing and plunging into the river. Anil Shinde said the rescue and search operations were launched immediately.
Shinde stated the rescue teams managed to trace the passengers but 13 had already lost their lives. The three injured were admitted to a hospital for treatment. All the passengers are from Balewadi in Pune. They were returning after visiting a Ganesha temple.
More than 1 lakh people lose their lives annually to the poorly maintained Indian roads, reckless driving and aging vehicles.
