MSRTC Bus Collision Near Surat Leaves 7 Dead, Dozens Injured

At least seven persons were killed and around 40 others injured after two Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses collided near Bardoli town in Gujarat’s Surat district on Tuesday, in a chain-reaction crash that led to one vehicle overturning and catching fire .

The accident occurred on National Highway 53 near Uva village , a key route connecting Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Police said the incident began when one MSRTC bus travelling towards Maharashtra reportedly hit a tractor/tanker ahead of it , causing the driver to lose control. The bus then crossed the divider and collided head-on with another MSRTC bus coming from the opposite direction.

Following the impact, one bus overturned into a roadside low-lying area and burst into flames , trapping several passengers inside, officials said.

According to Surat Rural Superintendent of Police Rajesh Ghadhiya, emergency teams from police, fire brigade, and neighbouring districts launched immediate rescue operations , pulling out injured passengers and shifting them to hospitals in Bardoli and Surat.

Officials confirmed that all seven fatalities were passengers in the bus that caught fire, while around 40 people were injured across both vehicles. Several injured passengers remain under treatment, with some reported to be in critical condition , though no further deaths have been reported so far.

Traffic on the Bardoli–Vyara stretch of NH-53 remained disrupted for several hours before being restored after clearance operations.

Preliminary reports indicate the accident may have involved overspeeding, sudden obstruction on the highway, and loss of control , though authorities have not ruled out other factors. A formal investigation is underway.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister expressed condolences and announced an ex-gratia compensation of ₹2 lakh each for the families of the deceased, along with assistance for the injured. Some reports also noted additional state-level relief measures being coordinated between Maharashtra and Gujarat authorities.