16 killed as mini bus, jeep collide on Jodhpur-jaisalmer highway
JODHPUR: At least 16 people were killed and five others seriously injured after a mini bus and a Bolero jeep collided on Friday afternoon near Agolai village on the Jodhpur-jaisalmer highway, police said.
Police and administrative officials rushed to the spot; local public representatives also reached the accident site.
A large crowd gathered at the accident spot and villagers helped the officials in removing bodies and taking the injured to ambulances.
Superintendent of Police (Rural) Rahul Barhath said that according to preliminary investigation, the mini bus lost its balance after one of its tyres burst.
“After that the mini bus hit the Bolero Camper,” Barhath said.
The mini bus was coming f r om Dantal vi l l age while Bolero Camper was on its way to Balesar from Jhanvar village. Police said 13 people died on the spot, while t hree seriously injured died at MDM Hospital in Jodhpur.
Fi ve ot her i nj ured were undergoing treatment at MDM Hospital, said doctors. The dead include six women, a child and nine men.
According to the police, the identity of the deceased was being identified.
Several ministers and leaders, including chief minister Ashok Gehlot and deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, expressed their grief over the accident .
Gehlot tweeted expressing c o ndol e nces: “Extremely pained by the loss of lives in a terrible road accident in Balesar, #Jodhpur on NH 125. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May God give them strength to bear this terrible l o s s . Hope a nd pr a y t hose injured recover soon.”
Sachin Pilot too offered condolences. In a tweet, he said, “The news of the accident was sad and unfortunate. I express my condolences to the families of the deceased and prayers for t he s peedy r ecovery of t he injured.”