37 dead as bus falls into river

Accident occured around 3.30am near Khed, driver lost control of the vehicle leading to the mishap

At least 37 people were killed and seven injured when a speeding Mumbai-bound luxury bus plunged into the Jagbudi River in Ratnagiri district in the wee hours today.

The accident occured around 3.30 am near Khed when the driver was negotiating a steep turn and lost control over the vehicle, which fell off the Jagbudi bridge from a height of about 40 ft, Khed police station in-charge Mahendra Singh Pardeshi told PTI.

The bus, which was badly damaged, was on its way back from Goa when the mishap took place.

Bodies of 37 passengers have been extricated so far and have been kept at the Khed municipal hospital, where the injured have also been admitted, he said.

The deceased have not been identified yet. Rescue operations are still on and the bus is being retrieved from the river, which has dried up almost, police said.

Following the accident, traffic on the Mumbai-Goa Highway was disrupted for nearly four hours.