Maharashtra bus accident: NDRF rescues 30 bodies from the spot; search operation ends

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) on Sunday confirmed that all of the bodies have been recovered from the site of the Raigad bus accident, which left 30 passengers dead and one injured in Maharashtra on Saturday.

"Raigad bus accident: NDRF calls off operation, total 30 bodies have been recovered from the site of the accident," the news agency ANI reported.

30 of the 31 Dapoli Agriculture University employees lost their lives, after a bus, on its way to Mahabaleshwar hill station, skidded off the road and rolled down a deep gorge in Maharashtra's Raigad district on Saturday afternoon.

One of the passengers survived as he jumped while the vehicle was sliding along the steep slope of the gorge.

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Following the tragic incident, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced some ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the family of the deceased. He had also promised the medical expenses for those who were injured in the accident.

Expressing his grief over the Raigad accident, PM Narendra Modi offered his condolences to the bereaved families of the dead. "Pained by the loss of lives due to a bus accident in Maharashtra's Raigad district. My condolences to those who lost their loved ones," the PMO tweeted quoting Modi.

Taking to Twitter Congress president Rahul Gandhi said, "I'm sorry to hear about the terrible bus accident in Raigad, Maharashtra in which a large number of people have been killed and many others injured. I appeal to Congress party workers in the area to provide all possible assistance to the injured and families of those who have died".

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Prima facie, a diversion of the driver's attention is believed to be the reason behind this tragedy. However, a detailed probe is being conducted to ascertain the same.

The passengers were on their way to Mahabaleshwar for a picnic trip when the driver lost control over the vehicle while negotiating a turn and fell into the gorge.

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