At least 13 persons, including seven women and children, drowned and three others were seriously injured when a minibus rammed into the safety barrier of a bridge and plunged into the Panchaganga river in Kolhapur, Maharashtra on Friday night.
All 16 occupants of the vehicle belonging to three families were related and were residents of Balewadi, Pirangut and Hinjewadi areas in Pune.
Smashed into barrier
According to the police, the tragedy occurred between 11:30 p.m. and 11:45 p.m. on Friday night.
The driver of the vehicle lost control, smashed the safety barrier of the Shivaji Bridge and plunged into the water.
“The passengers were on a temple tour of Maharashtra. They were returning from Ganpatipule. We are ascertaining whether the driver lost control because of rash driving, while trying to overtake another vehicle or whether he was in a state of inebriation,” a police official said.
Local people, who witnessed the accident, immediately informed police and rescue personnel.
Bharat Kedari survived the tragedy but he lost his son, daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law and two grandsons in the accident. “My entire family has been wiped out. Why am I living to see this day?” said an inconsolable Mr. Kedari.
Kolhapur Guardian Minister Chandrakant Patil, along with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Dhananjay Mahadik and Congress MLA Satej Patil, visited the site.
Bodies of the deceased were brought to Pune by late afternoon where the final rites were performed.
