A tragic accident struck Maharashtra’s Nandurbar district on Sunday when a school bus carrying students returning from Diwali holidays plunged into a 150-foot-deep gorge near Amlibari Ghat in Amlibari village. The mishap left one student dead and several others critically injured, sending shockwaves through the local community.
According to preliminary reports, the bus was navigating a sharp bend on the hilly road when the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to skid off the path and tumble into the ravine. The impact was severe, leaving the bus mangled and trapping multiple students inside.
Local residents were the first to respond, rushing to the scene even before emergency services arrived. Rescue and relief operations began immediately, with villagers, police, and local authorities working together to pull the victims out of the wreckage. Teams used ropes and stretchers to bring the injured up the steep slope, while ambulances transported them to hospitals in Akkalkuwa and Nandurbar for emergency medical care.
Police officials said that the rescue operations are ongoing, as there may still be students or belongings trapped inside the damaged vehicle. The authorities have not yet provided an official count of the total number of students on board or the extent of injuries sustained, but they warned that the death toll could rise as some of the victims remain in critical condition.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic and heartbreaking. Many of the injured children were crying for help as rescuers battled difficult terrain to reach them. Parents and relatives of the students, upon hearing about the accident, rushed to the site in panic, anxiously searching for their children.
Initial investigations suggest that the steep and winding terrain of the ghat, coupled with possible speeding or mechanical failure, may have caused the driver to lose control. However, the exact cause is yet to be officially determined.
Senior police officers from Nandurbar district have visited the site and ordered a thorough inquiry into the incident. Authorities are also examining whether the school bus had undergone proper maintenance checks and whether it adhered to safety and transport regulations.
The accident has reignited concerns over the safety of school transport in hilly and remote areas, where poorly maintained vehicles and a lack of guardrails often make travel perilous. Local residents have urged the government to install warning signs, crash barriers, and speed-control mechanisms on dangerous stretches like Amlibari Ghat to prevent such tragedies in the future.
As rescue efforts continue late into the evening, the community remains in mourning, with prayers pouring in for the injured students and the bereaved family of the deceased child. The state administration is expected to announce compensation and further safety directives in the coming days.
