4 dead, 10 injured after bus-tanker collision triggers massive fire on Gujarat highway

RAJKOT: Four people were charred to death and ten others injured after a private bus collided with a tanker carrying damar on the Ahmedabad–Rajkot National Highway early Thursday morning. The bus caught fire immediately after the collision. According to sources, the bodies of the victims were burnt beyond recognition.Police said the accident occurred around 1:30 am near Sangani village in Chotila taluka of Surendranagar district. Passengers started screaming after the crash as flames quickly spread through the bus.“There were around 35 people travelling in the bus. Ten injured passengers were rushed to Chotila Government Hospital, and four of them were later referred to Rajkot Civil Hospital for further treatment,” said S S Bhadoriya.According to H T Makwana, deputy collector of Chotila the bus was travelling from Ahmedabad to Rajkot. Preliminary investigations suggest that the tanker was moving ahead of the bus when one of its tyres burst and caught fire. The bus travelling behind it then rammed into the tanker.Motorists passing by, local villagers, hotel staff and petrol pump employees joined rescue efforts. Several passengers were pulled out after rescuers broke the bus windows, while some managed to escape by jumping out themselves.Police have launched an investigation into the incident.