Overview
- The head‑on collision happened Tuesday on National Highway‑53 near Bardoli when a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation bus reportedly hit a tractor, crossed the central divider and struck an oncoming MSRTC bus, causing one coach to overturn and catch fire.
- Authorities have confirmed seven deaths and dozens injured, with published injury counts ranging from about 15 to 40 and several patients described as critical.
- Firefighters, police, local residents and ambulance teams carried out large rescue and extraction operations while hospitals in Bardoli and Surat treated and admitted the wounded.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced ex‑gratia payments from the PMNRF of Rs 2 lakh to next of kin and Rs 50,000 to the injured and Maharashtra officials pledged additional state aid including Rs 10 lakh for families of the dead.
- Police are identifying victims, collecting DNA samples for badly burned bodies, have registered charges related to negligent driving, and are examining vehicle records and the tractor's role as they probe the cause.