Following a tragic incident on Tuesday that resulted in the deaths of seven individuals, including four women, due to a bus fire after a collision with another bus near Bardoli in Gujarat’s Surat district, local authorities are now tasked with the challenging process of identifying the victims.
As of Wednesday evening, the only confirmed identification was that of Ghanshyam Raju Barkale, the driver of the ill-fated bus, who was from Jalgaon, Maharashtra. The bus, operated by Maharashtra State Transport, was en route to Surat from Jamer Bus Depot in Jalgaon.
Given the severe condition of the bodies, the Bardoli rural police collected blood samples from four relatives of passengers aboard the bus who are currently unaccounted for, to assist with DNA identification tests.
The bus involved in the fire was powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), as confirmed by law enforcement officials.
One grieving family member, 22-year-old Sachin Patil, shared his experience with The Indian Express. He recounted receiving a call from his mother, Manisha, around 3:40 PM on Tuesday, informing him that she would arrive in about an hour and a half. When he attempted to reach her again shortly thereafter, she did not answer. After numerous attempts to contact her, he grew anxious. Manisha had traveled to attend a religious event in her hometown about ten days prior.
At approximately 4:30 PM, Sachin received a call from his aunt in Surat, who informed him of the bus accident. He and his brother quickly made their way to the scene, which was a 50-kilometer journey from Surat to Bardoli, taking over an hour. Upon arrival, they were told that identification of the deceased would be difficult due to the condition of the bodies. They visited the government hospital where the victims were taken but were unable to identify Manisha. Other families were also there seeking their loved ones. Eventually, Sachin provided his blood sample for DNA matching.
Manisha, 48, who lived in the Dindoli area of Surat and was originally from Mahalpur village in Jalgaon, had boarded the bus on Tuesday. While traveling through Vyara taluka in the Tapi district, she had called her son, asking him to pick her up in the Parvat Patia area of Surat. Manisha’s husband passed away a decade ago, and the family had relocated to Dindoli in Surat five years ago.
Since the incident on Tuesday evening, numerous individuals have visited the Bardoli rural police station and hospitals in the area to check on their loved ones.
Among those who provided blood samples for DNA testing were Sachin Patil, Jagruti Sonavne from Palghar, Dinesh Nergapur from Parvat Patia, and Charodar Madhukar Patil from Bardoli. Inspector V.A. Sengal of the Bardoli police mentioned that a family from Nandurbar, Maharashtra, was also on their way to provide blood samples for testing, as they have a relative who is missing.
According to a police report filed by Sopandev Shivsagar, the conductor of the bus that caught fire and also from Jalgaon, 36 passengers had boarded the bus, which departed from Surat at around 7:30 AM on Tuesday. The report stated that while crossing Uva village in Bardoli, another bus from Maharashtra jumped the median and collided with theirs, causing the first bus to overturn. Shivsagar recounted that he immediately exited the bus and assisted in evacuating five passengers before a sudden explosion ignited a fire. Many passengers from the other bus were also injured and called for help. Emergency services arrived swiftly to assist, and he also sought treatment for minor injuries.
Based on Shivsagar’s account, the Bardoli police have filed charges against the driver of the other bus, who is currently receiving medical care in Bardoli. The driver has been charged under various sections for negligent driving leading to death, endangering lives, and violations of the Motor Vehicle Act.
Among the 26 individuals hospitalized due to injuries, 12 were transferred to New Civil Hospital in Surat, three to SMIMER Hospital, five to Om Sai Hospital in Bardoli, and six to Sardar Smarak Hospital in Bardoli. Those with minor injuries were discharged after receiving initial treatment.
Inspector V.A. Sengal informed The Indian Express that some of the injured individuals remain in critical condition due to significant head and burn injuries. DNA samples have been collected from at least four individuals whose relatives are missing, along with samples from the deceased, which will be analyzed at the Forensic Science Laboratory in Surat.
Kamal Saiyed, a senior correspondent for The Indian Express, specializes in in-depth reporting from Surat and surrounding regions, including Daman, Diu, and Dadra Nagar Haveli. With a career at the publication dating back to 2007, he has established a reputation as a knowledgeable voice on the industrial and social dynamics of one of India’s rapidly developing cities.
