Surat/Anand, September 30 (HS): Five people were killed and five others injured when a Sai Darshan Travels bus collided with a truck on the Ahmedabad–Vadodara Expressway between Anand and Nadiad in the early hours of Wednesday.

The private luxury bus, operated by Sai Darshan Travels, was travelling from Surat to Rajasthan when the accident occurred at around 3:30–4 a.m. The impact was severe, leaving the front section of the bus extensively damaged. The collision triggered panic among the passengers, many of whom were asleep at the time.

According to police, the bus was travelling from Anand towards Nadiad when it collided with the truck. The force of the impact left several passengers trapped inside the damaged vehicle.

Local residents rushed to the scene after being alerted to the accident and began rescue efforts. Police and 108 emergency ambulance services were subsequently informed. With the assistance of local residents, police personnel extricated the passengers trapped inside the bus. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals, where they are undergoing treatment.

The bodies of the deceased were sent for post-mortem examination after completion of the necessary panchnama proceedings.

Dhanesh Jadhav, a resident of Surat who was injured in the accident, said he had boarded the bus in Surat. Recalling the incident, he said there was a sudden and powerful impact in the early morning hours. Almost all the passengers were asleep at the time, he said, adding that the collision was followed by screams and chaos both inside and around the bus.

Nimeshbhai, a relative of one of the deceased, said he had seen his relative board the bus from Surat at around 9 p.m. He received information about the accident at approximately 3:15 a.m. He said his brother-in-law was among those killed in the crash. The family has appealed to the government for financial assistance.

Following the accident, Anand Rural Police reached the site and launched an investigation. Police are examining the circumstances that led to the collision and are also working to confirm the identities of the deceased and injured passengers.

The damaged vehicles disrupted traffic on the expressway for some time. Police subsequently arranged for the vehicles to be removed from the roadway and restored normal traffic movement.

Further legal proceedings are underway.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar