Bodies of bus mishap victims brought to Surat

SURAT: Bodies of 24 people, including 10 women and four children, who died in the bus accident near Panchgani on Saturday night, were brought here around 10.30 am on Monday from Satara.
The bodies were brought in a special convoy accompanied by a police team from Satara. District administration officials said one body was still to be identified.
“We are facing difficulty in identifying and handing over bodies as relatives of most of the victims are still being treated at hospitals in Maharashtra,� said former Surat mayor Ajay Choksi.
Confusion prevailed when body of four-year-old Prince Patel was brought in as his parents, Yogesh and Deepika, were recuperating at a hospital in Satara. Their neighbour Pravin Patel collected the body.
Meanwhile, a team of officials led by Surat SDM Nilesh Shah left for Satara on Sunday night to coordinate with the local authorities in Satara, so as to provide proper medical attention to all those admitted in various hospitals there, collector incharge JB Vora told TNN.
Vora said officials of the regional transport office are investigating the matter to ascertain any irregularities on the part of the Shriji Tours and Travels, which had organised the trip and also the bus owner, as the bus was hired by the tour organiser from some other agency.
RTO officials are in touch with the Satara police for investigations in the matter, Vora told TNN. Copy of FIR has been lodged War police station of the Satara district and the case registration number is 88/2003, sources told TNN.
Superintendent of police (Satara) Prashant Borde told TNN over phone that a case under IPC 279 and 304, pertaining to negligent and rash driving and causing death, was registered and further investigations are on.