Horrific Accident: 40 Passengers Rescued by Cutting Bus Metal; Luxury Bus Plunges into Ditch Near Kosamba, Surat – Over 20 Injured, 1 Dead
Early this morning, around 5 AM, a luxury bus filled with passengers plunged into a ditch near Kosamba on National Highway 48. The bus skidded off the road unexpectedly, causing passengers, who were asleep, to be trapped inside. Hearing the screams, other drivers passing by stopped their vehicles and immediately informed the fire department and police.
Upon receiving the report, Surat Fire Emergency Team rushed to the accident site. The bus’s cabin area had collapsed, trapping two to three people who were crying for help. Several passengers were also stuck inside the bus. The fire rescue team cut through the bus’s metal sheets, widened the openings, and successfully rescued 40 passengers. All were safely evacuated.
One Dead, Several Injured in Kosamba Bus Accident
In this tragic accident, a young man and a woman sustained severe injuries. The young man, identified as Sandeep Ramdas Baviskar, aged 45, succumbed to his injuries during treatment at the civil hospital. Currently, over 20 passengers are receiving treatment at SMIMER Hospital, while around 7 are admitted to the Civil Hospital.
It is suspected that the bus plunged into the ditch because the driver may have dozed off.
Eyewitness Account: “I Stopped My Car Immediately” – Kanti Bhai
Kanti Bhai Rawal, one of the first witnesses to the accident, shared his experience: “We were traveling to Surat early in the morning when we noticed something unusual, indicating an accident had occurred. I stopped my car right away.
When I approached the bus, I saw many people trapped inside. We tried to break the glass and rescue them, but the situation was critical. Some passengers had broken arms and legs, while others had severe head injuries.”
He added, “Seeing the gravity of the situation, I immediately called emergency services at 108 and 1033. Within a short time, 12 to 15 ambulances arrived. I still don’t know how the accident happened.”
Fire Officer’s Account: “Heard Screams Near the Highway”
Dhirubhai Chauhan, a fire officer from Mota Varachha, shared his experience: “I was on leave and returning to Surat from my village. As I approached Kosamba, I saw a luxury bus off the road, and people were screaming for help. Acting on my duty instincts, I immediately stopped my car and assisted the rescue team at the scene.”
He further mentioned, “Around 30-35 people were trapped inside the bus, and about 15 of them had severe injuries.”
List of 24 Passengers Under Treatment at SMIMER Hospital
- Vishnu Ruparamji Suthar (Age 38)
- Lukhkiben Ruparam Suthar (Age 62)
- Unknown (Age 30)
- Ashok Dhanaram Purohit (Age 33)
- Unknown (Age 40)
- Dipaliben Navjeet Sonawane (Age 40)
- Manjuben Pravin Desai (Age 27)
- Pravin Rama Desai (Age 36)
- Ramesh Chhotubhai Chaudhary (Age 18)
- Rakesh Chhoturam Harjivan (Age 21)
- Shanti Reva Thakor (Age 1)
- Ganpat Vala Thakor (Age 21)
- Champalal Chagnasam (Age 28)
- Navneet Pundlik Sonawane (Age 48)
- Dilip Laljibhai Vaghela (Age 23)
- Sheetal Dilip Vaghela (Age 22)
- Akbar Khan Hamir Khan (Age 45)
- Lalji Raja Vaghela (Age 52)
- Yogita Lalji Vaghela (Age 19)
- Deepika Dinesh Vaghela (Age 19)
- Amarat Bhaluram Chaudhary (Age 18)
- Vikram Paras Darji (Age 22)
- Vimalaben Lalji Vaghela (Age 28)
- Purkha Ratva Ram (Age 49)
Fire Department Response: Rescue Operation Began at 5:10 AM
According to the fire department, the accident occurred early this morning (November 27). At 5:10 AM, they received a call reporting that a private luxury bus named “Malani,” carrying around 40 passengers, had plunged into a ditch under the Kosamba bridge. The Surat fire brigade team immediately rushed to the scene and started rescue operations.
The fire department successfully rescued around 40 passengers. Among them, two were reported to be in critical condition.
Passengers Trapped in the Cabin During the Crash
Sub-Fire Officer Vijay Tandale stated that after receiving the call, the fire rescue team quickly arrived at the scene. The incident occurred while all passengers were asleep.
Those seated in the cabin were trapped in that area, while others sleeping on the sofas also got stuck due to the impact. All 40 passengers sustained injuries in the accident.
26 Passengers Admitted to SMIMER Hospital
The fire department further reported that a woman and a man sustained severe injuries. Passengers trapped in the cabin were rescued by cutting and widening the metal sheets. One woman sleeping on a sofa suffered serious leg and head injuries.
All injured passengers were immediately transported to Surat’s SMIMER Hospital via 108 ambulances. Currently, 26 people are admitted there, and the woman’s condition remains critical.
Bus Was Traveling from Rajasthan to Mumbai
It was further revealed that the bus driver was not found at the scene, raising suspicions that he might have fled after the accident. Authorities believe the driver may have fallen asleep, causing the bus to veer off the road and plunge into the ditch near the Kosamba bridge shortly after leaving Surat. The bus was en route from Rajasthan to Mumbai.
Fortunately, all passengers have been rescued safely, and no fatalities have been reported so far.
