New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed anguish over the Nashik accident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs two Lakhs from Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the next of kin of each of the deceased, and Rs 50,000 would be given to those who got injured.

“Anguished by the bus tragedy in Nashik. My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones in this mishap. May the injured recover at the earliest. The local administration is providing all possible assistance to those affected,” a tweet from the Prime Minister’s office said.

Anguished by the bus tragedy in Nashik. My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones in this mishap. May the injured recover at the earliest. The local administration is providing all possible assistance to those affected: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 8, 2022

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“An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each of the deceased due to the bus fire in Nashik. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000, the tweet added.

Accident on Nashik-Aurangabad road

At least 11 people died and 21 others injured in a bus accident on Maharashtra’s Nashik-Aurangabad road on Saturday.

The accident happened after a bus coming from Yavatmal to Mumbai collided with a truck going to Pune from Nashik.

“A luxury bus travelling to Mumbai from Yavatmal hit a trailer truck going to Pune at an intersection near Mirchi Hotel on Nashik-Aurangabad highway. Soon after ramming into the truck, the bus caught fire in which 11 passengers died,” Nashik Police Commissioner Jayant Naiknavare said, as quoted by PTI.

In a statement, the Chief Minister’s office confirmed that 11 people had died in the accident, while 21 others were injured and undergoing treatment at a hospital in the city.

Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde expressed grief over the unfortunate incident and announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakhs each to the relatives of the deceased.

“Chief Minister Enath Shinde has given instructions to provide urgent medical treatment to the injured in this accident at government expense. The Chief Minister also said that the causes of the accident in Nashik will be investigated,” the Maharashtra CMO tweeted.