Mumbai, July 28: Maharashtra government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs four lakh to the kin of those who died after a bus fell down a mountain road in Ambenali Ghat, in Raigad district on Saturday. The government will also bear the medical expenses of the injured. As many as 30 people died in the incident when the bus lost control after skidding on wet mud that had collected on the treacherous stretch and fell into a gorge near Poladpur around 175 km from Mumbai.

Employees of Dr Balasaaheb Sawant Konkan Agriculture University were on a picnic trip to Mahabaleshwar. The National Response and Disaster Response Team (NDRF) were rushed to the spot and started rescue operations. The sole survivor, Prakash Sawant-Desai climbed up the hill and called the university authorities and the police.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the tragic incident. He offered condolences to the family members who lost their loved ones in the accident.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has also expressed sorrow over the incident. In his tweet, he said that the administration was taking all necessary measures to rescue the survivors. While interacting with media, the chief minister said that the government would provide help to the kin of deceased, but would also take steps to avoid such incidents in future.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi also condoled the deaths. He even appealed to the Congress workers near there to provide all possible assistance to the injured and the families of the victims.

Earlier this month, a bus fell into a 60 meter gorge in Uttarakhand. The incident occurred near the Guen Bridge on Pipli-Bhaun motorway in NainiDanda block when the driver of the bus lost control, and it fell into a gorge A total of 48 people had lost their lives in that accident, while many others were injured.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 28, 2018 07:50 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).