Vadodara: Eight people were killed, and at least 26 others were injured after a private bus going to Surat from Rajasthan ploughed into a parked truck near the International Cricket Stadium at Kotambi near Vadodara around 4am on Wednesday.The force of the collision tore through the front section of the bus, trapping several passengers inside the twisted wreckage.All victims – eight men and a nine-year-old boy -were natives of Dungarpur district of Rajasthan.Preliminary investigation suggests the bus driver may have failed to spot the stationary truck in the darkness. The truck driver Navneet Vaghela told investigators that he had stopped the vehicle to check tyre pressure.
Police said six people died on the spot, while two others succumbed to their injuries during treatment at SSG Hospital. The deceased included a nine-year-old child. Some of the injured are reported to be in critical condition.Heart-wrenching scenes were witnessed at the site, and cries for help echoed in the dark and belongings strewn on the road even as injured passengers struggled to free themselves from the mangled vehicle.Local residents rushed to the scene and began rescue efforts even before emergency teams arrived. Many of the injured had to be pulled out through shattered windows as rescuers battled to reach those trapped inside.Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), police teams and ambulance services launched a massive rescue operation, shifting the injured to nearby hospitals.Investigators are also probing whether a black tarpaulin sheet covering the rear of the truck obscured its parking lights and warning indicators, making it difficult for the approaching bus to notice the vehicle in time.Jarod police have registered a case of negligence against the truck driver and detained him for questioning.“The truck driver showed negligence on several counts. The death toll stood at eight till Wednesday evening. We have deployed a team at the hospital and set up a helpline to help the injured connect with their families,” said Sushil Agrawal, DSP (Rural).“After completion of the necessary formalities, the bodies will be sent to Rajasthan,” said Dr Ranjan Aiyer, medical superintendent of SSG Hospital.
