By Deepak Tijori 
CM announces Rs 10 lakh compensation for kin of woman who died
An elderly woman died while 22 others were injured after a state transport bus fell into a deep gorge near Nashik district on Wednesday morning.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced Rs 10 lakh compensation to the family of the woman who died.
The police said the incident took place at around 6.30 am at Ganpati point on the Saptashrungi Garh ghat section in Kalwan taluka when the bus was heading towards Buldhana.
According to the police, 14 of the injured passengers are from Amalner taluka in Jalgaon. The woman who died, identified as Ashabai Rajendra Patil, was also from the same taluka. The injured also includes the bus driver and cleaner.
The police said the bus reached Saptashrungi Garh, which is 60 km from Nashik city, on Tuesday night, from where it started its journey back to Khamgaon bus depot in Buldhana on Wednesday morning.
“The bus left Saptashrungi Garh at around 6 am. The driver, identified as Gajanan Pandurang Tapke, lost control while negotiating the curves and the bus fell into the gorge which is about 400 metres deep,” a police officer said.
Local authorities were subsequently informed after which police teams were dispatched to the spot and the injured rushed to hospital. “At least 15 of the injured are admitted at the Nashik civil hospital while three others were rushed to a government hospital in Vani. The rest had suffered minor injuries and were allowed to go after medical assistance,” a police officer said.
The police said the driver and two other women had suffered grievous injuries and were admitted in the ICU of Nashik civil hospital.
The Kalwan police station in Nashik Rural has registered a case of negligent and rash driving against the driver. Police inspector Samadhan Nagre said, “It appears the driver was driving at a high speed due to which the vehicle went out of control. There is a steep turn at the spot where the accident occurred.”
Later in the day, guardian minister Dada Bhuse visited the spot. Speaking to the media, he said that all the injured will be provided treatment by the government.
Mishap on Samruddhi Mahamarg
In another incident, 19 people were injured after a luxury bus collided with a truck on Samruddhi Mahamarg near Aurangabad on Wednesday. The police said the bus was going from Nagpur to Pune when it rammed into the truck that was carrying iron and steel.
Inspector Nikalje of Phulambri police station said, “We have registered a case against the driver but we have not arrested him as he is admitted in hospital.”
Officials said at least 15 people were discharged from hospital after being administered medical aid.