Nine killed as Bolero crashes into truck in Maharashtra's Bhandara

Six women and three children, all belonging to Chhattisgarh, were killed in an accident involving a truck and a Multi Utility Vehicle (MUV) in Maharashtra’s Bhandara district early on Friday, police said.

The accident took place at 3:31am on the Lakhni-Sakoli lane of National Highway 53, a release from Bhandara police said.

"A Bolero crashed into an Eicher truck. Nine occupants of the Bolero, six women and three children, were killed in the accident. The victims were coming to Nagpur from Chhattisgarh capital Raipur via National Highway 53,” said a police official from the spot.

Fourteen persons have been injured, he added.

The Chhattisgarh government announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to those injured.

In a post on 'X', Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said, "Instructions have been issued to provide financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of the Chhattisgarh citizens who died in the road accident in Maharashtra's Bhandara district, and Rs 50,000 each to the injured".

A team from Chhattisgarh government has reached Bhandara and is coordinating with Maharashtra government and local administration to facilitate medical treatment for the injured and assist the affected families, he said.

"Adequate arrangements are being ensured in Nagpur for the best possible medical care for those critically injured. The Chhattisgarh government stands with the affected families with the utmost sensitivity, and every possible assistance will be provided to them," Sai added.