At least eight people were killed and around 24 others injured after a passenger bus rammed into a truck and caught fire on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Rajasthan's Dausa district early Wednesday.
The accident occurred near Dhanawda under the Kolwa police station limits.
According to police, five passengers were charred to death, two others succumbed to severe head injuries on the spot while one succumbed to burn injuries at a hospital.
The bus, operated by Hans Travels, was travelling from Rishikesh in Uttarakhand to Indore in Madhya Pradesh when it collided with a truck moving ahead of it on the expressway.
The impact of the collision triggered a massive fire in both the vehicles. Police, fire brigade personnel, and district administration officials rushed to the spot and launched rescue operations.
The fire was later brought under control, and the injured were shifted to the Dausa District Hospital for treatment.
"The bus was travelling from Rishikesh to Indore when it caught fire following a collision on the Jaipur-Bandikui Expressway around 3:15 or 3:30 am. Around 24 or 25 people managed to escape safely and were rescued; they are currently doing well," District Collector and District Magistrate of Dausa, Dr Saumya Jha, said.
"Regarding the total number of casualties—we can only provide an approximate figure at this stage; the final count is not yet confirmed. There have been around seven to eight deaths," she added.
