Buldhana : A devastating accident unfolded on the night of March 31, 2025, when a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus collided with an SUV on National Highway 161G near Tadshah Dargah in Buldhana district, leaving five people dead and two others injured. The crash occurred around 11:30 PM as the bus, traveling from Malkapur to Buldhana, struck the SUV head-on while it was heading toward Shegaon.
Police reports indicate that the SUV carried seven passengers, five of whom perished in the collision. The deceased were identified as Sheikh Farid Sheikh Ibrahim, Shaikh Ghafoor Sheikh Ibrahim, Shaikh Hameed Sheikh Ghafoor, Shaikh Ibrahim Sheikh Ghafoor, and Shaikh Aftab Sheikh Ibrahim all residents of Akola district. The two survivors sustained injuries and were promptly transported to a nearby hospital, where they are receiving treatment. The bus driver also suffered injuries and is under medical care, though the approximately 40 passengers aboard the bus escaped unharmed.
Authorities suspect that high speed may have contributed to the crash, with the bus reportedly traveling at an excessive rate. The impact was severe enough to crush the SUV, trapping its occupants inside. Emergency responders worked swiftly to extricate the victims, but for five, help arrived too late. The Buldhana police have launched an investigation to determine the precise cause of the accident, registering a case to examine factors such as speed, road conditions, and potential driver error.
This tragic incident adds to a troubling pattern of road accidents in the region, spotlighting concerns over highway safety. As the investigation unfolds, officials are urging drivers to exercise caution on National Highway 161G, a route that has now become the scene of yet another fatal collision.
