In a tragic incident near the Saputara hill station in Gujarat’s Dang district, India, five pilgrims lost their lives and 46 were injured when the bus they were traveling in fell into a gorge. The bus, carrying 51 passengers, was part of a multi-state religious tour and the accident occurred early on Sunday morning, February 2, 2025.
According to S.G. Patil, the Superintendent of Police in charge of the case, the accident took place at 4:15 AM when the bus driver lost control on a dangerous mountain road and crashed through a steel barrier near the Malegaon Forest Rest House. “The bus, carrying 48 pilgrims, broke the crash barrier and fell at a depth of about 35 feet into the gorge,” said Patil. Early investigations suggest brake failure as a possible cause of the crash.
The deceased were identified as Guddibai Yadav, 60, Kamleshbai Yadav, 60, Bholaram Yadav, 55, Bijendra Singh Yadav, 55, and the bus driver, Ratanlal Jatav, 41. All were from the Guna, Shivpuri, and Ashok Nagar districts of Madhya Pradesh state.
The ill-fated bus was part of a four-vehicle convoy transporting approximately 200 pilgrims from the ancient Trimbakeshwar Temple in Maharashtra to the holy city of Dwarka in Gujarat. The journey, organized by the pilgrimage group as part of their religious rituals, began in Madhya Pradesh, made a stop in Maharashtra, and was heading towards Gujarat.
Of the injured, 24 were critically wounded and transported to Surat Civil Hospital for specialized treatment. The remaining 22 were treated at local medical facilities and released. Emergency medical teams from Ahwa and surrounding districts were dispatched to transport the most severely injured. Local police and emergency responders spent hours in the difficult terrain, using specialized equipment to reach the victims in the gorge.
The accident site, located near Gujarat’s only hill station, is known for its twisty roads and sharp bends. The Saputara-Malegaon stretch is particularly difficult to navigate in the early morning due to reduced visibility caused by fog and mist common to the area. Local authorities have reported multiple accidents on this specific road in recent years, prompting calls for improved safety measures.
This latest incident follows a series of similar accidents in India’s mountainous regions. Last November, 36 people died in Uttarakhand state’s Almora district when an overloaded bus fell into a 197-foot gorge. This past accident led to the suspension of transport officials who had sanctioned the overburdened vehicle, prompting national authorities to enforce stricter safety protocols for mountain routes.
Officials are now reassessing safety protocols for buses operating on mountain routes during night hours. The state transport department has mandated immediate safety audits for all private buses operating on similar routes.
Following the incident, state officials in Gujarat announced plans to review all crash barriers along the region’s mountain roads, with an emphasis on sections with a history of accidents. Emergency rescue protocols for mountainous areas are also being evaluated to improve response times in future incidents.
