Infant among 3 dead in ST crash near Gadchiroli

Gadchiroli: Three passengers, including a seven-month-old, were killed and 33 others injured after a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus overturned near Gadchiroli on Thursday morning.The accident occurred at a sharp curve near Navegaon-Murkhala, about six km from the city, when Gadchiroli-Umarkhed bus crashed through roadside iron safety barrier and overturned into a field after the driver allegedly lost control of the speeding vehicle.The deceased were identified as Khwaja Shahabuddin (60) of Desaiganj, Laxmibai Durkiwar (55) of Navargaon, and seven-month-old Shivansh Navghare, who died during treatment. Some of the injured passengers are stated to be in critical condition and were shifted to Nagpur for specialised medical care.Eyewitnesses said the bus was moving at high speed when the driver failed to negotiate the curve and the vehicle broke through the barrier. The impact threw passengers against each other, leaving several women and children seriously injured.Locals rushed to the spot immediately after the accident and helped rescue trapped passengers before police and health department teams arrived and launched relief operations.Among the injured are driver Rohit Deshmukh and conductor Sandeep Pawar, along with several passengers from different parts of Gadchiroli district.Police have initiated investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the accident.Gadchiroli MLA Dr Milind Narote and former MP Dr Ashok Nete later visited the district hospital where they enquired about condition of the injured and directed doctors to ensure urgent treatment for the critically injured.